The race for North Carolina's 11th District in the U.S. House of Representatives was decided after the primary elections March 3rd. Farmer Jamie Ager won the Democratic Party nomination, and incumbent Republican Congressman Chuck Edwards prevailed in the primary of his party.
Both advance to the general election on November 3, 2026, when voters will decide who will represent Asheville and much of the western part of the state in the federal Congress.
The results
According to unofficial results from the North Carolina State Board of Elections, with 100% of precincts reported, Ager obtained 49.077 votes, equivalent to 64.69% in the Democratic primary.
In second place was physician and former Blue Ridge Health CEO Richard Hudspeth with 12.027 votes (15.85%). He was followed by Zelda Briarwood with 9.852 votes (12.99%), cell biologist Paul Maddox with 3.842 votes (5.06%), and civil engineer Lee Whipple with 1.071 votes (1.41%).
In the Republican primary, Edwards received 47.634 votes, representing 70.09%, compared to 20.332 votes for his rival Adam R. Smith, who obtained 29.91%.
Related: Raleigh selects City Council candidates for November elections
A district marked by recovery after Hurricane Helene
District 11 covers most of western North Carolina, including Buncombe County —where Asheville is located— and several counties in the state's mountainous region.
The region was one of the hardest hit by the Hurricane Helene In September 2024, floods and landslides caused damage to roads, homes, and basic services in mountain communities, many of which are still in the process of recovery.
Infrastructure reconstruction, federal disaster aid, and the pace of recovery in rural communities in the western part of the state have become central issues for many residents of the region.
Chuck Edwards seeks to remain in office
Chuck Edwards has represented District 11 in the United States House of Representatives since 2023. The Republican has maintained control of the seat since winning the 2022 election and was subsequently re-elected in 2024.
In this year's Republican primary, he defeated his rival Adam R. Smith by a wide margin.
Democrats have failed to win District 11 in recent election cycles. However, some analysts believe that issues such as the recovery from Hurricane Helene could influence the political debate.
You may be interested: Primaries: Asheville has its six finalists for City Council heading into November
Ager, a farmer and member of a family with a political history
Jamie Ager is a farmer and manages Hickory Nut Gap FarmA farm in Fairview, a small town in Buncombe County. The property has been in the Ager family for over a century. Today, as a fourth-generation farmer, Ager continues the farming work that has defined his family in western North Carolina.
The Ager family name also has a long history in regional politics. His grandfather represented District 11 in Congress during the 1980s, and his father was a state legislator.
Currently, his brother Eric Ager is a member of the North Carolina House of Representatives.
After the primary results were announced, Ager said he will seek to represent all residents of western North Carolina, regardless of their political affiliation.
“We want western North Carolina to prosper in the future,” the candidate said during a message to supporters.
PODCAST
After the storm
A year ago, Hurricane Helene struck western North Carolina. The Latino community responded with something stronger than the storm: solidarity.
🎧 In this episode, learn how Latino organizations transformed crisis into resilience.
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