Republican · North Carolina's 11th District · 2026
Jennifer Balkcom
Balkcom grew up on her family's apple farm in Henderson County.
Biography
Jennifer Balkcom grew up on her family's apple farm in Henderson County.1 She began working in banking and finance in 1998 and became a mortgage loan officer.1 A wife and mother, she comes from a family with eight generations of ties to western North Carolina.2
Balkcom earned an associate degree in business administration, banking and finance from Blue Ridge Community College.1 Her community service has included the Henderson County Education Foundation board.1 She lives with her family in Hendersonville and has continued working in the mortgage industry alongside her legislative career.13
She has represented Henderson County in the state House since 2023.4 She was one of four primary sponsors of a disaster recovery law enacted in June 2025.5 It made knowingly denying state disaster assistance because of political affiliation or speech a felony and eased some reconstruction requirements for buildings damaged by Helene.6 The National Republican Congressional Committee selected her for its MAGA Majority candidate support program in September 2026.2
Her congressional priorities include additional Helene recovery funding, border security and restricting transgender athletes' participation in women's and girls' sports.4 She has also supported eliminating the state income tax and sponsored restrictions on foreign ownership of agricultural land.4 She faces Democrat Jamie Ager for the House seat Chuck Edwards is leaving.4
Record and controversies
Artificial images in advertising
About both candidates: Jennifer Balkcom and Jamie Ager
An October 27 Citizen Times report documented an NRCC funded ad from Balkcom's campaign using artificial images to depict Ager dancing with drag performers.7 Performer Nova Jynah said the ad used a likeness without permission, denied ever meeting Ager and sent Balkcom's campaign a cease and desist letter.7 The report distinguished the fabricated scene from a real 2019 farm event whose broader entertainment lineup included a group that performs in drag.7 Ager rejected the depiction; Balkcom's campaign defended the ad as criticism of events it considered inappropriate for children, and the NRCC said it would keep running it despite the letter.7
Utility funding and a competing attack ad
A News & Observer fact check verified Duke Energy PAC contributions to Balkcom and her votes for the 2025 utility legislation, Senate Bill 266, including the veto override.8 It also found an important omission in a Save Democracy PAC attack: the budget Balkcom supported preserved some data center incentives but repealed a sales tax exemption for their electricity purchases.8 Her campaign rejected the ad as false; the report did not establish an improper exchange of contributions for votes.8