In the 11th congressional district of western North Carolina, a new candidate has been selected to fill the vacancy left by Republican incumbent Chuck Edwards. Edwards withdrew his bid for re-election earlier this month after a U.S. House investigation concluded that his behavior toward two female staffers likely constituted sexual harassment. In response to the vacancy, the Republican party has chosen state lawmaker Jennifer Balkcom to represent the party on the ballot.

Balkcom is set to face Democratic nominee Jamie Ager in the November midterm elections. The district is historically significant, as Donald Trump secured a victory there by a 10-point margin during the previous election cycle. Despite this historical Republican advantage, Democratic strategists have expressed optimism regarding Ager’s potential to win the seat, suggesting that the circumstances surrounding the vacancy may influence voter turnout and district preferences. The race is now officially set, with both parties preparing for the general election contest in a district that remains a point of interest for national political observers.