Election 2026: Balkcom, Walsh on ballots, ready for campaign sprint

(The Center Square) – Absentee ballots go out for North Carolina voters two weeks from Friday, and late changes are complete in the 11th Congressional District and state District 117 of the House of Representatives.

State Rep. Jennifer Balkcom, R-Henderson, is trying to succeed embattled U.S. Rep. Chuck Edwards, R-N.C., in Congress. Pursuit of her seat in Raleigh will be by Chelsea Walsh, a 2022 primary runner-up to Balkcom and former chairwoman of the Henderson County Republican Party.

The choice of Balkcom was made by the Republican executive committee for the 11th Congressional District on Monday of last week. Walsh got the nod on Thursday from the executive committee of the Henderson County Republican Party.

State Sens. Kevin Corbin of Macon County and Tim Moffitt of Henderson County were early leading candidates along with Balkcom to succeed Edwards on the ballot. Balkcom immediately supported Moffitt. Then Corbin and Moffitt each withdrew from consideration before the Aug. 10 meeting that cemented B...