Democratic candidates protest NC-11 gala exclusion, threaten boycott
Months before the candidate filing period begins, the NC-11 Democratic Primary Election is already getting heated.
NC-11 Democrats photo
A blistering letter signed by four Democratic candidates for Congress in North Carolina’s 11th Congressional District is raising questions about party neutrality in primaries, calling the party’s decision to include only one congressional candidate — Jamie Ager — as the keynote speaker at the NC-11 Democratic gala “deeply unfair” and fundamentally at odds with core party values.
“We, the undersigned Democratic candidates for Congress in North Carolina, write to express our collective and unequivocal disgust,” the Aug. 1 letter begins, before taking aim at what the candidates view as a party-sanctioned attempt to tip the scales in favor of Ager, a Buncombe County farmer and political newcomer who announced his candidacy in late July.
Signatories to the letter, which was addressed to the North Carolina Democratic Party, the NC-11 Democratic Party and Buncombe County Democrats, include candidates Moe Davis, Zelda Briarwood, Chris Harjes and Paul Maddox.
Their criticism centers on the decision to give Ager the spotlight at the Aug. 23 gala in Asheville while excluding other Democratic candidates from the event’s speaking program, a move the authors claim undermines “transparency, inclusion and neutrality” — principles they argue are essential for the Democratic Party’s credibility, especially during a contested primary leading to a high-stakes election.
“Let us be clear: It is not the role of any Democratic Party entity, whether it’s county, district or state, to anoint a nominee before voters have had their say,” the letter reads. “Showcasing a single candidate sends a clear and dangerous message that the primary is already decided.”
The controversy has already sparked wider discussion among Western North Carolina Democrats, some of whom view the letter as a necessary challenge to perceived backroom dealing and insider politics. Others fear it may deepen existing divisions and distract from the party’s ultimate goal — capturing what they believe is a winnable seat currently held by Rep. Chuck Edwards (R-Henderson).
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Ager, who entered the race touting his business acumen, agricultural roots and bipartisan appeal, has drawn early praise from party insiders eager to consolidate support behind a candidate they believe can win in November. But the letter warns that such early preference “suppresses debate, diminishes grassroots momentum and undermines the hard work of candidates and volunteers across the district.”
The authors also raise concerns about potential legal implications, noting that if the gala is being organized by a nonprofit entity, “electioneering, where one candidate is promoted, may be illegal in this circumstance.”
Federal election law generally prohibits tax-exempt organizations from endorsing or supporting political candidates, especially during a primary; however, the North Carolina Democratic Party plan of organization doesn’t strictly prohibit it.
Though the letter does not cite specific statutes or evidence of wrongdoing, it calls on the NC-11 Executive Committee to “immediately amend the gala program to include all qualified Democratic congressional candidates.” Absent such action, the authors warn they will “picket and boycott the event unless level heads prevail.”
The threat of a public protest at a major Democratic gathering signals what could be a growing rift within the party. Davis, who won the NC-11 Democratic Primary Election in 2020 and lost to Republican Madison Cawthorn in the General Election, had been perceived as a frontrunner in the upcoming Primary Election until the entry of Ager, while Briarwood and Harjes have been campaigning for months.
By contrast, Ager is viewed by some as a fresh-faced moderate with crossover appeal. His early campaign messaging has emphasized unity and pragmatic problem solving, a theme echoed by Ager’s campaign consultant, Grayson Barnette.
“We welcome anyone to the race and believe in the Democratic primary process and the exchange of ideas that take place in that process,” Barnette said Aug. 2. “Jamie’s job is to run the strongest campaign he can and I’m confident he’s going to get through this primary.”
It remains unclear whether the NC-11 Executive Committee will revise the gala program in response to the candidates’ demands or whether the event will proceed with Ager as the sole congressional speaker.
When reached for comment, NC-11 Democratic Party Chair Bill Baugh said the party was reconsidering the speaker lineup and that he anticipates having a statement on the matter in the coming days.
If unchanged, the program may provide Ager with a high-profile platform to build early name recognition and attract donors — advantages that could carry significant weight in a crowded primary field. That possibility has clearly rankled Ager’s opponents, who argue that party-sponsored events must remain neutral in contested primaries to preserve voter trust and institutional legitimacy.
“Anything less will further erode trust and weaken our party’s ability to energize and unite voters heading into November,” the letter concludes.
For now, the incident has placed the spotlight not just on the candidates vying for the nomination, but on the mechanisms of party power that shape their prospects. With the NC-11 Democratic Gala still on the calendar, the next moves by both party leaders and the candidates themselves may offer insight into whether the district’s Democrats can reconcile internal tensions — or whether the road to November will be marred by deeper discord.
