Democrat Ager wins in NC-11, will face Rep. Edwards
Jamie Ager's fundraising tripled the rest of the field, combined.
Cory Vaillancourt photo
Fairview farmer Jamie Ager has prevailed in an 11th Congressional District Democratic Primary Election that drew unusual national attention and substantial investment.
Ager outpaced his four Primary Election opponents with an impressive 65% of the vote, avoiding a runoff and positioning himself for a November showdown with incumbent Republican Rep. Chuck Edwards, who also won his Primary.
Ager was perceived as the frontrunner since his July 2025 entry into the race and proved it with healthy fundraising that tripled the rest of his four opponents combined. His campaign gained further momentum after national Democrats added him to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee’s “Red to Blue” program — signaling that party leaders see a potential path to competitiveness in a district long considered safely Republican — although the designation did create some backlash.
The primary unfolded against the backdrop of Hurricane Helene recovery, economic strain and affordability concerns that have reshaped political conversations across Western North Carolina. Ager leaned heavily into those themes, arguing that the region needs more aggressive advocacy in Washington.
Districtwide turnout exceeded the 2022 mid-term congressional primary, reflecting heightened engagement among Democratic voters energized by the prospect of making the race competitive.
Richard Hudspeth, a retired physician, finished a distant second with 16%. Zelda Briarwood, of Canton, earned 13%, while Yancey County's Paul Maddox ended up with 5%. Lee Whipple, of Asheville, finished with 1.41%.
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With the primary settled, Democrats now pivot toward unifying the party and testing whether national investment and local frustration can narrow the gap in a district that former President Donald Trump carried comfortably in recent cycles.
Check back with The Smoky Mountain News for full results and detailed analysis across Haywood, Jackson, Macon and Swain counties in our March 11 issue.
