Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
State Representative Jennifer Balkcom makes her first public appearance since being selected as the Republican nominee for North Carolina’s 11th Congressional District.
Balkcom, who hopes to make history as the first woman elected to Congress from NC-11, spoke one-on-one with News 13 following a groundbreaking rebuilding ceremony for Asheville Buncombe Community Christian Ministry's (ABCCM) Veterans Restoration Quarters.
ABCCM leaders thanked Balkcom for her work securing state funding for the project, starting nearly two years after Helene.
“She’s been very instrumental in some success that we’ve had recently with our General Assembly partners,” an ABCCM representative said.
Balkcom helped advocate for $5 million in state funding for the Veterans Restoration Quarters project that also has FEMA funds.
“That’s why we work together to secure five million from the state,” Balkcom said.
Now, with just over 80 days until Election Day, Balkcom says she is quickly building her campaign operation after Congressman Chuck Edwards ended his bid.
Asked what she has been doing since Republicans nominated her, Balkcom said: “Literally putting a team together.”
That includes hiring a campaign manager and planning events throughout the district.
Balkcom says Hurricane Helene recovery, housing affordability and rural health care will be among her priorities on the campaign trail.
“We have affordability. People are still hurting. People need those things,” she said, pointing to her work in Raleigh on holding property taxes level.
Another issue is top of mind for Balkcom.
“Rural health care — that is another thing we’ve got to work on and make it affordable," Balkcom said.
Balkcom is also addressing questions about her political history. She was once registered as a Democrat before switching to the Republican Party in 2016.
“My grandfather was a Democrat. My great-grandfather was a Democrat in North Carolina,” Balkcom said.
She explained they were conservative Democrats, but said she eventually felt the Democratic Party no longer represented her views.
“In 2016, I saw that they had left me, and I decided to switch parties to Republicans because they represented what I stood for, my morals, and I was ready to go," Balkcom said.
Balkcom is now preparing for a general election matchup with Democrat Jamie Ager. She says she is potentially open to debating her Democratic opponent and plans to spend the coming weeks meeting voters across the district.
“We’re still working on the schedule, but we’ll get that to you as soon as possible," Balkcom said.
#republican #congress #healthcare
MORE: wlos.com/news/local/jennifer-balkcom-makes-first-appearance-republican-congress-north-carolina-nc-11-western-politics-chuck-edwards-asheville-replacement-veterans-restoration-quarters-community-wnc-gop?teaserSource=trending
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WLOS ABC 13 News serves the Asheville, NC area and the rest of western North Carolina and Upstate South Carolina. We keep our audience informed through local news, weather forecasts, traffic updates, notices of community events, sports and entertainment programming since 1954.
This video and all Sinclair Broadcast Group content archives of local news and sports coverage are available for your use. For more information contact us at contentsales@sbgtv.com
State Representative Jennifer Balkcom makes her first public appearance since being selected as the Republican nominee for North Carolina’s 11th Congressional District.
Balkcom, who hopes to make history as the first woman elected to Congress from NC-11, spoke one-on-one with News 13 following a groundbreaking rebuilding ceremony for Asheville Buncombe Community Christian Ministry's (ABCCM) Veterans Restoration Quarters.
ABCCM leaders thanked Balkcom for her work securing state funding for the project, starting nearly two years after Helene.
“She’s been very instrumental in some success that we’ve had recently with our General Assembly partners,” an ABCCM representative said.
Balkcom helped advocate for $5 million in state funding for the Veterans Restoration Quarters project that also has FEMA funds.
“That’s why we work together to secure five million from the state,” Balkcom said.
Now, with just over 80 days until Election Day, Balkcom says she is quickly building her campaign operation after Congressman Chuck Edwards ended his bid.
Asked what she has been doing since Republicans nominated her, Balkcom said: “Literally putting a team together.”
That includes hiring a campaign manager and planning events throughout the district.
Balkcom says Hurricane Helene recovery, housing affordability and rural health care will be among her priorities on the campaign trail.
“We have affordability. People are still hurting. People need those things,” she said, pointing to her work in Raleigh on holding property taxes level.
Another issue is top of mind for Balkcom.
“Rural health care — that is another thing we’ve got to work on and make it affordable," Balkcom said.
Balkcom is also addressing questions about her political history. She was once registered as a Democrat before switching to the Republican Party in 2016.
“My grandfather was a Democrat. My great-grandfather was a Democrat in North Carolina,” Balkcom said.
She explained they were conservative Democrats, but said she eventually felt the Democratic Party no longer represented her views.
“In 2016, I saw that they had left me, and I decided to switch parties to Republicans because they represented what I stood for, my morals, and I was ready to go," Balkcom said.
Balkcom is now preparing for a general election matchup with Democrat Jamie Ager. She says she is potentially open to debating her Democratic opponent and plans to spend the coming weeks meeting voters across the district.
“We’re still working on the schedule, but we’ll get that to you as soon as possible," Balkcom said.
#republican #congress #healthcare
MORE: wlos.com/news/local/jennifer-balkcom-makes-first-appearance-republican-congress-north-carolina-nc-11-western-politics-chuck-edwards-asheville-replacement-veterans-restoration-quarters-community-wnc-gop?teaserSource=trending
_______________
Follow WLOS on social media:
WLOS ABC 13 News on Facebook: facebook.com/News13
WLOS ABC 13 News on X: https://x.com/WLOS_13
WLOS ABC 13 News on Instagram: instagram.com/wlos_13
Subscribe to WLOS on YouTube: youtube.com/user/ABC13Channel/?sub_confirmation=1
For all of the day’s top local and national news, visit wlos.com
Stream our newscasts LIVE: wlos.com/watch
Have a news tip? Send it directly to us:
Email us: news@wlos.com
Call the Newsroom: 828.684.1340
--
WLOS ABC 13 News serves the Asheville, NC area and the rest of western North Carolina and Upstate South Carolina. We keep our audience informed through local news, weather forecasts, traffic updates, notices of community events, sports and entertainment programming since 1954.
This video and all Sinclair Broadcast Group content archives of local news and sports coverage are available for your use. For more information contact us at contentsales@sbgtv.com
