News · Press Release

WATCH: Jamie Ager “Running for Congress to Ensure our Mountains Remain a Great Place to Farm”

Spectrum News: “Democrats may have their best chance of winning the seat in years”
As Election Day nears, Jamie Ager is gaining momentum in the race for North Carolina’s 11th Congressional district, building bridges with the communities he knows best: farmers.

Last week, Ager launched Farmers for Jamie, a large coalition of local farmers supporting his fight to flip NC-11 blue.The launch comes as rural North Carolinians sour on Chuck Edwards’ disastrous record of leaving farmers behind: from rubberstamping Trump’s tariffs and war of choice in Iran that have squeezed farmers, to failing to secure recovery funding for Hurricane Helene.

DCCC Spokesperson Madison Andrus:
“Farmers are the lifeblood of Western North Carolina and Chuck Edwards has spent his time in Congress making their lives harder. Farmers are sick and tired of Edwards and his agenda that’s raising prices on everything from machinery to fertilizer to diesel fuel. They’re ready to make their voices heard and elect Jamie Ager, a real farming advocate, to Congress this November.”

Read more:

Spectrum News: Jamie Ager runs as ‘mountain Democrat’ in race against Rep. Edwards

  • Another House race to watch is in western North Carolina in the 11th Congressional District.
  • And while Edwards is seeking a third term, Democrats may have their best chance of winning the seat in years.
  • Cooper said, “2026 is going to be a good year for the Democratic Party generally. The 11th Congressional District in particular Henderson, Buncombe and Transylvania counties have been moving a little bit more left.”
  • Democrats are also excited about their candidate, Jamie Ager.
  • “Jamie Ager is trying to present as a different kind of Democrat…” Cooper said.
  • Ager, who calls himself a mountain Democrat, is a farmer who owns a sustainable meat company, and on Friday his campaign announced the creation of a coalition of 60 local farmers supporting his run. The farmers are from counties including Yancey, Buncombe, Henderson and McDowell.
  • In the announcement, which was first shared with Spectrum News 1, Ager said he’s “running for Congress to ensure our mountains remain a great place to farm” and that he “will fight for family farms and not big agriculture.”

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