From Staff Reports

GASTONIA, N.C. — North Carolina, NC-11 U.S. House candidate Jennifer Balkcom primarily used her time to thank U.S. President Donald J. Trump for his executive record rather than directly attacking her opponent during her brief remarks at Trump’s rally in Gastonia on Sept. 16.

Balkcom, a native and lifelong resident of Henderson County, is the Republican nominee for the open 11th Congressional District seat being vacated by Chuck Edwards, who dropped his bid for re-election in August ahead of being censured in the U.S. House. 

After Edwards decided not to run again, Balkcom quickly stepped in to join the race instead. Balkcom now is a District 117 state congresswoman. Her opponent is Democrat Jamie Ager, a Fairview farmer who reportedly has a significant fundraising advantage.

The event — organized primarily for Trump to support Republican U.S. Senate candidate Michael Whatley and to talk about agenda items such as crime and the war in Iran — also gave Republican candidates in the state’s most competitive districts the chance to pitch themselves to a large audience. 

Besides Whatley, the two other candidates allowed to address the rally were Balkcom and  Retired Army Col. Laurie Buckhout, a Republican candidate for the state’s 1st district.

Balkcom said the following at the rally:

“Let me just say, thank you, Mr. President … for closing our borders, for keeping us safe, and thank you most personally for keeping boys and men out of women’s sports. Thank you as a small business owner for what you’ve done for small businesses. And this Western North Carolina farm girl is going to represent us well in Washington.”

Details of her appearance are as follows:

• The event: Spoke at a Make America Safe Again rally in Gastonia alongside Trump and Whatley.

• The platform: Used her brief time on stage to praise Trump’s executive record rather than launch a broader policy pitch or attack her opponent.

• Aftermath context: Defended Trump later regarding separate remarks he made at the same rally concerning Hurricane Helene FEMA relief funding, stating he was attempting to persuade voters rather than issuing a literal funding threat.