tate Representative Jennifer Balkcom makes her first public appearance since being selected as the Republican nominee for North Carolina’s 11th Congressional District.
Balkcom, who hopes to make history as the first woman elected to Congress from NC-11, spoke one-on-one with News 13 following a groundbreaking rebuilding ceremony for Asheville Buncombe Community Christian Ministry's (ABCCM) Veterans Restoration Quarters.
ABCCM leaders thanked Balkcom for her work securing state funding for the project, starting nearly two years after Helene.
“She’s been very instrumental in some success that we’ve had recently with our General Assembly partners,” an ABCCM representative said.
Balkcom helped advocate for $5 million in state funding for the Veterans Restoration Quarters project that also has FEMA funds.
“That’s why we work together to secure five million from the state,” Balkcom said.
Now, with just over 80 days until Election Day, Balkcom says she is quickly building her campaign operation after Congressman Chuck Edwards ended his bid.
Asked what she has been doing since Republicans nominated her, Balkcom said: “Literally putting a team together.”
That includes hiring a campaign manager and planning events throughout the district.
Balkcom says Hurricane Helene recovery, housing affordability and rural health care will be among her priorities on the campaign trail.
“We have affordability. People are still hurting. People need those things,” she said, pointing to her work in Raleigh on holding property taxes level.
Another issue is top of mind for Balkcom.
“Rural health care — that is another thing we’ve got to work on and make it affordable," Balkcom said.
Balkcom is also addressing questions about her political history. She was once registered as a Democrat before switching to the Republican Party in 2016.
REPUBLICAN CONGRESSIONAL NOMINEE BALKCOM BEGINS 84-DAY CAMPAIGN FOR NC-11 SEAT
“My grandfather was a Democrat. My great-grandfather was a Democrat in North Carolina,” Balkcom said.
She explained they were conservative Democrats, but said she eventually felt the Democratic Party no longer represented her views.
“In 2016, I saw that they had left me, and I decided to switch parties to Republicans because they represented what I stood for, my morals, and I was ready to go," Balkcom said.
Balkcom is now preparing for a general election matchup with Democrat Jamie Ager. She says she is potentially open to debating her Democratic opponent and plans to spend the coming weeks meeting voters across the district.
“We’re still working on the schedule, but we’ll get that to you as soon as possible," Balkcom said.
STORY & PHOTO COURTESY OF ABC 13 WLOS.
