Jennifer Balkcom

Jennifer Balkcom is from Henderson County, North Carolina. The General Assembly lists her occupation as mortgage loan officer, and coverage of her nomination describes her as a small business owner with a background in agriculture, business and banking. She represents District 117, which covers part of Henderson County, in the North Carolina House of Representatives, where the General Assembly lists her with two House terms as of the 2025-2026 session. Her committee roles in that session include chairing the Appropriations, Agriculture, Natural and Economic Resources Committee and serving as vice chair of the House Select Committee on Helene Recovery. On August 5, 2026 Rep. Chuck Edwards announced he would not seek reelection after a House Ethics Committee report recommended he be censured over alleged misconduct with staffers. On August 10, 2026 the 11th District Republican Executive Committee, meeting in Asheville, chose Balkcom from six candidates on the first ballot to replace Edwards on the ballot. She faces Democrat Jamie Ager on November 3, 2026.