Balkcom in, Moffitt out, in NC-11 replacement talks

Jennifer Balkcom emerges as the favorite for the NC-11 GOP nomination as Tim Moffitt and Adam Smith bow out ahead of Monday evening’s vote.

US Capitol (Source: Creative Commons by Mark Stebnicki via Pexels)

Monday evening, Republicans in western North Carolina’s 11th Congressional District will be meeting to decide their GOP candidate to replace, Congressman Chuck Edwards, R-NC11, after a House Ethics Committee report detailed violations of House rules related to sexual harassment and creating a hostile workplace.

Under North Carolina law, when a candidate withdraws this close to the election, the political party in this case, the Republican Party, selects a replacement nominee. North Carolina’s 11th Congressional District is made up of 16 counties: Avery, Buncombe, Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Mitchell, Polk, Swain, Transylvania, and Yancey.

CANDIDATES

Late last week, State Sen. Tim Moffitt, R-Henderson, appeared to be frontrunner in the replacement contest; however, over the weekend Moffitt said he would not be placing his name in the running.

“After careful consideration, I have decided not to seek the Republican nomination for North Carolina’s 11th Congressional District,” Moffitt wrote on social media. “My responsibilities to my family and businesses would not allow me to commit to more than a few years in Congress. Western North Carolina deserves a representative who can give the full measure of time required, both day-to-day and over the long-term. Anything less would be unfair to the people of this district.”

He continued by thanking everyone for their support and encouragement during the process.

Adam Smith, who challenged Edwards in the March primary and previously said “nothing is off the table,” has also announced that he will not seek the nomination.

“I have decided not to seek the nomination,” Smith wrote. “I want to be direct about my reasons. I have never run from a fight in my life, not overseas and not at home, and I know what it takes to win a battle in 87 days: infrastructure already built and the full weight of the party committed from day one. The stakes are too high for anything less. This seat must stay in conservative hands, and the best way I can serve that mission right now is to help our party unite immediately behind its nominee instead of dividing it on the eve of battle.”

Rep. Jennifer Balkcom, R-Henderson, has announced she will be seeking the nomination and is viewed as the current favorite. The two term House member, said it’s time to step up.

“I hadn’t planned to go to Washington,” wrote Balkcom, “But I’ve learned throughout my life that when your community needs you, you don’t sit on the sidelines; you step up. Western North Carolina needs a strong voice right now. Our communities are still rebuilding from Hurricane Helene. Our farmers, families, and small businesses need someone who understands them. And too often, Washington simply doesn’t understand the people, values, and challenges of our mountains.”

Balkcom said her decision to enter the race was driven by a desire to fight for Western North Carolina and ensure the region has a strong voice in Washington.

“So, after much prayer, reflection, and conversations with my family, I’m in,” Balkcom said. “I will seek the Republican nomination for North Carolina’s 11th Congressional District. This race is too important to sit out. We must hold this seat, preserve our mountain values, work with President Trump’s Administration to continue rebuilding Western North Carolina, and make sure Washington never forgets the people who call these mountains home.”