Democrats flip North Carolina’s 11th District after Chuck Edwards abandoned reelection bid

November 3, 2026 / 9:05 PM EST / CBS News

Washington — Democrat Jamie Ager flipped control of North Carolina's 11th Congressional District, CBS News projected, marking the first time a Democrat has won the seat since 2010.

Ager, a fourth-generation farmer, was initially supposed to face GOP Rep. Chuck Edwards, who ended his reelection bid in early August. State Rep. Jennifer Balkcom replaced Edwards on the ballot less than 90 days before the election, putting her at a disadvantage in an already tough political climate for Republicans.

The nonpartisan Cook Political Report shifted the race from lean Republican to toss-up after Edwards suspended his campaign. As Election Day neared, election forecasters shifted the race again to lean Democrat.

The House voted overwhelmingly to censure Edwards in September after the bipartisan House Ethics Committee found the two-term congressman engaged in "persistent unprofessional and inappropriate conduct" toward two young women who worked for him.

Though Edwards argued the committee's findings "completely exonerate" him under House rules, he abandoned his reelection bid days later.

Original source: https://www.cbsnews.com/world/