The North Carolina Republican Party selected state GOP Rep. Jennifer Balkcom to take Rep. Chuck Edwards‘s (R-NC) spot on the North Carolina 11th Congressional District ballot.
Edwards dropped out late in the campaign after allegations of sexual misconduct emerged, sending North Carolina Republicans scrambling to find a replacement. Army veteran Adam Smith and state Sen. Tim Moffitt, Balkcom’s own preference, dropped out of consideration over the weekend. Support ultimately unified behind Balkcom, and she was selected by the North Carolina Republican Party’s executive committee.
The North Carolina Republican Party congratulated her on her selection in a post on X.
“Jennifer Balkcom has previously served in the North Carolina House of Representatives representing District 117 in Henderson County. She will be on the ballot this November,” it said.
“Rest assured, I will work every single day between now and Election Day to earn the votes of our friends and neighbors,” Balkcom said in a Monday statement. “Our region is incredibly strong and resilient, and I plan to be the fighter everyone who calls Western North Carolina home deserves.”
Balkcom had originally forgone running in favor of backing Moffitt, but when he opted out, she entered the race.
“I hadn’t planned to go to Washington. But I’ve learned throughout my life that when your community needs you, you don’t sit on the sidelines; you step up,” she said in a Sunday statement.
CHUCK EDWARDS DROPS REELECTION BID AFTER ETHICS REPORT DETAILS SEXUAL HARASSMENT CLAIMS
Balkcom has a difficult task set out for her: getting the nomination just 85 days before the general election. She’s going up against Democratic nominee Jamie Ager, who has held the nomination since March.
As North Carolina law prohibits candidates from running in multiple races at once, Balkcom will have to drop out of her state House race, and state Republicans will have to find someone to replace her in that race too.