North Carolina 11th District
Chuck Edwards (R) is running again. 3 candidates were on the ballot on November 3, 2026.
Who should win this race, and why?Say what you think. Other readers can answer you.DiscussJamie Ager
Democrat · farmer and business owner, first-time candidate
No gradeNo grade yetI have no votes in Congress to count for Ager, and what Ager has said and done settles only 2 of my principles. I went through it on October 31. A grade needs 4.
Raised $5,869,453 since January 2025: 86% from people, 8% transfers and other income, 6% from PACs and other committees. The filing at FEC.gov
Jennifer Balkcom
Republican · state representative, Henderson County, mortgage loan officer
ALiberty Score A100 out of 100 across 5 principles. Graded on what Balkcom has said and done, because I have no votes in Congress to count for Balkcom.
Raised $399,492 since January 2025: 61% from PACs and other committees, 27% from people, 11% transfers and other income. The filing at FEC.gov
Voting in North Carolina: how to register, vote early or vote by mail. Election Day was November 3.
Side by side
A solid letter is a grade from recorded votes on that principle. An outlined letter is on the same scale, for a candidate with no votes: it comes from what that candidate has said and done, and every source is listed below.
Jamie Ager, on the record
I have no votes in Congress to count for Ager, so the grade above comes from this list: what Ager has said and done on my principles. Each line has its source, and each is marked with the same test I use for votes.
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Says the country should not have gone to war with the Islamic Republic and ties it to higher fuel prices.
“When Americans are already struggling to make ends meet, you should not needlessly go to war with Iran.”
- By the test I use for votes
- Not clear either way
Not going to war with the Islamic Republic, with no policy, bill or vote named, settles nothing, the same call the site makes for everyone (BRIEF: 'end the war in Iran' with no policy is unclear).
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Asked about the Iran war in a March 2026 interview, he said the Islamic Republic's human rights record has been miserable.
“their human rights record and their ability to be a partner for the world has been miserable.”
- By the test I use for votes
- Not clear either way
The quoted words say 'their' and never name Iran, so by the brief's rule they cannot settle an Iran measure on their own.
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Says tariffs can be a tool but the current administration's are raising prices.
“Tariffs can be used as a tool, but they are being used irresponsibly by the current administration and making prices go up.”
- By the test I use for votes
- Not clear either way
He neither backs nor rejects tariffs as such, so the words do not settle it.
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Supports no tax on tips.
“And I’ll support reforms that help working people, like no tax on tips”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
A named tax cut is with liberty on free markets.
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Says he will defend Medicare's power to negotiate drug prices and keep capping insulin.
“I’ll defend Medicare’s power to negotiate drug prices and keep capping insulin and other essentials.”
- By the test I use for votes
- Against liberty
Government price caps on drugs are price controls, against liberty on free markets.
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Said he will push both parties to reform the tax code so the people at the top pay their fair share.
“I'll push both parties to reform the tax code so the folks at the top pay their fair share.”
- By the test I use for votes
- Not clear either way
A fair share with no tax named does not settle the free markets test.
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Wrote in a Facebook post, quoted by Blue Ridge Public Radio, that he wants taxpayer dollars spent at home and not on wars overseas.
“keeping our taxpayer dollars spent here and not on wars overseas”
- By the test I use for votes
- Not clear either way
Spending not going to wars overseas is not a statement on the size of the defence budget, so it does not settle the defense test.
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In the same interview he said a path to citizenship for hard working families who pay taxes makes sense.
“that are hard working families a path to citizenship. It makes sense.”
- By the test I use for votes
- Against liberty
A path to citizenship for people here illegally is against liberty on borders.
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In the same interview he said the country needs a stronger border and that an open border is unacceptable.
“obviously, we need a stronger border. Having an open border is unacceptable.”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Calling for a stronger border is with liberty on borders.
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Says he supports a strong border and deporting criminals.
“I support a strong border and a focus on deporting criminals, not our neighbors trying to do things right.”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
A strong border and deporting criminals is with liberty on borders.
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Calls for comprehensive immigration reform without naming the terms.
“I want comprehensive immigration reform, which is long overdue.”
- By the test I use for votes
- Not clear either way
No amnesty, path or enforcement term is named, so the words do not settle it.
Jennifer Balkcom, on the record
I have no votes in Congress to count for Balkcom, so the grade above comes from this list: what Balkcom has said and done on my principles. Each line has its source, and each is marked with the same test I use for votes.
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In a 2026 iVoterGuide questionnaire she answered that the US relationship with Israel is important and gave her reason.
“Yes. Israel is the only democracy in the middle east.”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Treating Israel as an important ally is with liberty on free nations.
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In an earlier iVoterGuide questionnaire she said she wants the individual income tax in North Carolina eliminated.
“I would like to see the complete elimination of the individual income tax in North Carolina and a full transition to a consumption tax.”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
A named tax cut is with liberty on free markets.
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In her acceptance statement she described the other party as nominating socialists who want to raise taxes.
“radical socialists who want to raise taxes”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Opposing socialism and tax increases is with liberty by this test.
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At a farm forum she said she and her opponent agree that rolling back regulations is good for the farm.
“We agree that rolling back regulations are good for the farm, and that’s what we need to do”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Rolling back regulation is the less regulation side of the free markets test.
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She was a primary sponsor of House Bill 574, the Fairness in Women's Sports Act, which limits girls' and women's school teams to female athletes.
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Keeping women's sport female is with liberty by this test.
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In an earlier iVoterGuide questionnaire she said government should stay out of religious affairs and that church and state should be separate.
“Government has no business in the affairs of Faith and the separation of church and state is essential to protecting our religious freedom.”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Keeping religion out of government's affairs is with liberty on conscience.
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In the same questionnaire she marked Strongly Disagree to the statement that she supports sanctuary cities.
“I support the existence of sanctuary cities to protect undocumented persons. Strongly Disagree”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Opposing sanctuary policies is with liberty on borders.
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In the same statement she criticised the other party for wanting to open the country's borders.
“open our borders”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Opposing open borders points to securing the border, the with side, though she named no policy.
Also on the ballot
Travis Groo (Libertarian).
Who is on the ballot: the state election offices, as listed on Wikipedia on November 3, 2026, checked against the candidate file of the Federal Election Commission. See a name that is wrong or missing? Say so in the discussion.
Who should win this race, and why?
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Discussion
North Carolina 11th District
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