Just two weeks after western Republicans elected a new 11th Congressional District chair, their Democratic counterparts have now done the same. 

Bill Baugh, a microbiologist and political activist living in Buncombe County, was elected chair of the North Carolina 11th Congressional District Democratic Party on Saturday, pledging to rebuild unity across the district and to refocus messaging on kitchen-table issues that resonate in rural Western North Carolina.

Baugh, who moved to Asheville from Palm Beach, Florida, during the COVID-19 pandemic, said his first call after settling in was to the Buncombe County Democratic Party.

“I told them, ‘I’m your guy. I’m sick of Trump — how can I help?’” Baugh recalled. That call led to a volunteer position at the front desk, later growing into a larger role as the cluster leader for the Riceville and Swannanoa communities.

Now, as district chair, Baugh said his top priority is rebuilding relationships that suffered during the isolation of pandemic-era Zoom meetings.

“The most important thing we can do in District 11 is work together,” he said. “We need messaging that connects with people in the far west, not just Asheville.”

Baugh strongly supports state party chair Anderson Clayton’s strategy of investing in youth and rural voters, even in deeply red counties.

“The youth vote is our future. That’s what we’re doing this work for. People can’t vote Democratic if they don’t see a Democrat [on the ballot],” he said. “We need to be present and talk about what matters — Social Security, veterans benefits, Medicaid.”

On Rep. Chuck Edwards (R-Henderson), Baugh was blunt.

“He goes out of his way to run against most of us in Buncombe County. He’s divisive and doesn’t represent our values,” Baugh said, while also criticizing Edwards’ response to misinformation surrounding Hurricane Helene relief, saying the congressman failed to “speak truth to power” when President Trump repeated lies during a visit to Swannanoa.

Looking ahead to 2026, Baugh hinted at a robust slate of Democratic challengers for Western North Carolina’s state legislative seats, vowing that “we’re going to have a candidate run against every one of them” and citing Buncombe County Democratic Rep. Lindsey Prather’s upset win in a Trump-leaning district as proof that grassroots organizing still works.

“We need to get out and do the work,” Baugh said. “Because it can be done.”

Baugh ran unopposed and was elected by acclimation.