{"campaigns":[{"candidatename":"Travis Groo","chatgptsummary":null,"notes":null,"party":"LIB","person":{"biography":"Travis Jason Groo is the Libertarian Party nominee for the U.S. House of Representatives in North Carolina\u2019s 11th Congressional District in the 2026 general election on November 3, 2026. The Libertarian primary scheduled for March 3, 2026, was cancelled, allowing Groo to advance to the ballot without a primary contest [1].\n\nGroo was born in Wylie, Texas, and earned a bachelor\u2019s degree in communication arts and advertising from the University of West Florida. He now resides in Wake County, North Carolina, with his two children [17].\n\nProfessionally, Groo works as an operations supervisor for Old Dominion Freight Line. His earlier career includes serving as head of sales and marketing for Created by Human and as production manager for Lambis & Associates [17].\n\nPolitically, Groo is the chair of the Wake County Libertarian Party. He has run for office several times: State Representative in House District 41 in 2022, State Senator in Senate District 17 in 2020, and State Representative in House District 11 in 2018, though he was not elected in those contests [17]. In 2024 he was the Libertarian candidate for North Carolina House District 36, receiving 2.9% of the vote (1,521 votes) in the general election [1].\n\nGroo\u2019s platform emphasizes expanding voter choice and reducing government overreach. He advocates for allowing municipalities in Wake County to adopt instant\u2011runoff (ranked\u2011choice) voting to ensure majority support for winners, a stance he has publicly discussed on social media and in interviews [16][17]. He calls for greater scrutiny of bond\u2011funded projects, prioritizing taxpayer interests, and seeks public consent before major projects proceed. In housing, he supports diverse options\u2014including townhomes, duplexes, and tiny homes\u2014to balance supply and demand without restrictive zoning. Environmental proposals include promoting home and community gardens and creating native habitat islands.\n\nOn healthcare, Groo backs universal access to affordable care and proposes abolishing all Certificate of Need regulations, which he argues create unnecessary barriers to service delivery [18][17]. In education, he favors expanding school\u2011choice options for parents. He also champions the removal of barriers to home farms and the protection of individual natural rights, rejecting any governmental imposition of obligations based on those rights [18].\n\nWhile Groo has not yet secured endorsements from major Democratic or progressive organizations, he has signed the Mental Health Now Statement of Support, indicating alignment with mental\u2011health advocacy efforts [9].\n\nOverall, Groo\u2019s candidacy reflects a consistent Libertarian emphasis on individual liberty, limited government, and electoral reforms aimed at increasing voter representation.\n\n## Sources\n- [1] [Travis Groo - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Travis_Groo)\n- [9] [Endorsements for Travis Groo - North Carolina Libertarian Party Candidate](https://bluevoterguide.org/NC/candidate_Travis_Groo/296049)\n- [15] [Travis Groo (@travisgroo) / X](https://x.com/travisgroo?lang=en)\n- [16] [Travis Groo For NC](https://www.facebook.com/groofornc/posts/travis-groo-a-libertarian-candidate-for-the-state-house-in-wake-county-and-chair/890614799549670/)\n- [17] [Travis Groo platform & website | North Carolina State Representative, District 36](https://www.branch.vote/races/2024-nc-general-election-nc-state-state-representative-nc-state-house-36/candidates/travis-groo)\n- [18] [Travis Groo | BallotReady](https://www.ballotready.org/people/travis-groo)","firstname":"Travis","lastname":"Groo","middlename":"Jason","suffix":null,"token":"7774e203b80e341f"},"token":"xwEglCgnoE"},{"candidatename":"Chuck Edwards","chatgptsummary":null,"notes":null,"party":"REP","person":{"biography":"Charles Marion \"Chuck\" Edwards is the incumbent Republican U.S. Representative for North Carolina\u2019s 11th Congressional District and is seeking a second term in the 2026 election, with the general ballot slated for November 3, 2026 [2][4][20]. The district covers 15 western\u2011mountain counties and is currently represented by Edwards, who first won the seat in 2022 after defeating incumbent Madison Cawthorn in the Republican primary.\n\nEdwards was born on September 13, 1960, in Waynesville, North Carolina, and graduated from West Henderson High School in 1978. He attended Blue Ridge Community College, studying business, accounting, and marketing, though he did not complete a degree program [8]. He resides in Flat Rock, North Carolina, with his wife Teresa.\n\nBefore entering politics, Edwards built a career as a businessman. He began with McDonald\u2019s, serving as an operations manager (1989\u20111991), senior business consultant (1991\u20111996), and development coordinator (1996\u20111998). He later became vice president of Henderson County Partners for Economic Progress and owned several McDonald\u2019s franchises in western North Carolina. In 2013 he was appointed director of Entegra Financial Corporation, which merged with First Citizens Bank in 2020 [8].\n\nEdwards entered public service in 2016 when Governor Pat McCrory appointed him to the North Carolina Senate to fill a vacancy. He won election to the Senate\u2019s 48th district later that year and was re\u2011elected in 2018 and 2020, serving until his swearing\u2011in to Congress in January 2023. While in the state Senate he chaired eight committees and served on 18, focusing on economic development, transportation, and education [8][2].\n\nIn the U.S. House, Edwards was assigned to the Appropriations Committee and the Budget Committee, a rare placement for a freshman lawmaker. On Appropriations he serves on four subcommittees, including Financial Services and General Government and Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies [5][19]. He has used his committee positions to bring federal resources to his district, such as securing nearly $260\u202fmillion in FEMA Public Assistance funds for hurricane recovery in western North Carolina [5]. He also received an endorsement from former President Donald Trump during his 2022 campaign [2].\n\nEdwards\u2019 public statements emphasize a \u201cmountain values\u201d agenda: growing the economy, cutting taxes and regulations, protecting election integrity, supporting American energy dominance, securing the border, and defending the Second Amendment. His campaign website outlines these priorities and highlights his work on the Appropriations subcommittee for National Security, as well as his role as a \u201cworkhorse\u201d for constituent services, a motto he uses in his district office communications [9][5].\n\nIn the 2026 cycle, Edwards won the Republican primary with 70.1% of the vote, defeating Adam Smith, and now faces Democratic nominee Jamie Ager, Libertarian Travis\u202fGroo, and Independent John Rogers in the November general election [2][4][20]. The race is rated as \u201cLikely Republican\u201d by several analysts, reflecting the district\u2019s recent voting patterns, though Democrats see an opportunity to flip the seat [3][20].\n\n## Sources\n- [2] [Chuck Edwards - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Chuck_Edwards)\n- [3] [North Carolina's 11th Congressional District election, 2026 - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/North_Carolina's_11th_Congressional_District_election,_2026)\n- [4] [North Carolina's 11th Congressional District - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/North_Carolina's_11th_Congressional_District)\n- [5] [Congressman Chuck Edwards |Representing the 11th District of North Carolina](https://edwards.house.gov/)\n- [8] [Chuck Edwards - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chuck_Edwards)\n- [9] [Home page - Chuck Edwards for Congress](https://www.chuckedwardsforcongress.com/)\n- [13] [Contact Rep. Charles Edwards \u2014 Phone, Office & Staff](https://legisletter.org/legislator/charles-edwards-E000246/contact)\n- [15] [Charles Edwards - Carolina Planning](https://planning.unc.edu/faculty/edwards/)\n- [19] [Rep. Charles (Chuck) Edwards [R-NC11, 2023-2026], Representative for North Carolina's 11th Congressional District - GovTrack.us](https://www.govtrack.us/congress/members/charles_chuck_edwards/456914)\n- [20] [Democrats choose Ager in NC-11 primary race; Edwards wins GOP nod](https://www.bpr.org/politics-government/2026-03-03/democrats-choose-ager-in-nc-11-primary-race-edwards-wins-gop-nod)","firstname":"Charles","lastname":"Edwards","middlename":"Marion","suffix":null,"token":"c7a946150af050a7"},"token":"fp9ksHrmAj"},{"candidatename":"Jamie Ager","chatgptsummary":null,"notes":null,"party":"DEM","person":{"biography":"James \"Jamie\" Ager is the Democratic nominee for the U.S. House of Representatives in North Carolina\u2019s 11th Congressional District, appearing on the November 3, 2026 general\u2011election ballot. The role involves drafting and voting on federal legislation, overseeing federal agencies through committee work, and providing constituent services for the district.\n\nAger was born and raised in Fairview, North Carolina. He earned his high\u2011school diploma from A.C. Reynolds High School and went on to graduate from Warren Wilson College with bachelor\u2019s degrees in environmental studies (concentrating on sustainable agriculture) and history [2]. He has spent his adult life on the family\u2011owned Hickory Nut Gap Farm, a fourth\u2011generation operation that now employs about 25 workers and markets pasture\u2011raised meat throughout the region [5][16]. In addition to farming, Ager co\u2011founded the Hickory Nut Gap business, served on the Buncombe County Farm Bureau and the Carolina Farm Stewardship Association, and has been active in local disaster\u2011recovery and economic\u2011development boards [2][4].\n\nAger comes from a long line of public servants. His grandfather, Jamie Clarke, served in the North Carolina House, Senate and U.S. Congress in the 1980s, while his father, John Ager, represented western\u2011mountain districts in the North Carolina House from 2015 to 2023; his brother, Eric Ager, is a current Buncombe County state representative [16]. Though rooted in a political family, Ager emphasizes his hands\u2011on farming experience as the foundation of his public service philosophy.\n\nIn the March 3, 2026 Democratic primary, Ager captured 64.7% of the vote (49,077 votes), defeating four opponents and securing the party\u2019s nomination for the congressional race [2][13][18]. He has since been added to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee\u2019s \u201cRed\u2011to\u2011Blue\u201d program, granting his campaign national fundraising, staffing and strategic support [9][10]. By the end of 2025, Ager had raised more cash than all other Democratic contenders in the district combined [18]. Endorsements include the DCCC, the Blue Dog Coalition, WelcomePAC and several local organizations [9][19].\n\nAger\u2019s platform centers on issues that affect western North Carolina\u2019s rural communities. He is prioritizing Hurricane Helene recovery funds, expanding affordable health\u2011care (including rural hospital support and prescription\u2011drug price reductions), lowering the cost of living for families, protecting public lands and outdoor economies, and investing in infrastructure such as roads, clean water and high\u2011speed broadband [4][5][9][11][12][14]. He also advocates for policies that support small\u2011business owners and farmers, including tax credits for sustainable agriculture and measures to preserve farmland [4][5][16]. While running as a Democrat, Ager describes himself as a pragmatic, \u201cmountain\u2011state\u201d candidate who will put people before partisan politics.\n\nIf elected, Ager would join Congress, where members serve two\u2011year terms, vote on federal legislation, and provide constituent services for their districts. His experience as a farmer, small\u2011business owner and community leader positions him to argue for rural interests on the national stage.\n\n## Sources\n- [2] [Jamie Ager - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Jamie_Ager)\n- [3] [J. Eric Ager - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/J._Eric_Ager)\n- [4] [Democrats Work For America - Jamie Ager](https://democratsworkforamerica.org/candidates/2026/NC/Ager.html)\n- [5] [Jamie Ager for US Congress](https://agerforcongress.com/)\n- [8] [James \"Jamie\" Ager | BallotReady](https://www.ballotready.org/people/james-ager-d761a847-ceea-4a3f-a439-847cd8b6b2a4)\n- [9] [National Dems eye North Carolina's 11th District, add candidate to 'Red to Blue' program](https://wlos.com/news/local/north-carolina-11th-congressional-district-2026-jamie-ager-chuck-edwards-republican-red-blue-program-democratic-congressional-campaign-committee)\n- [10] [NC-11 Democrats rebuke DCCC over early support for Ager \u2022 NC Newsline](https://ncnewsline.com/2026/02/26/nc-11-democrats-rebuke-dccc-over-early-support-for-ager/)\n- [11] [Democrat Edges Out Incumbent Republican in New Internal Campaign Poll - Newsweek](https://www.newsweek.com/north-carolina-democrat-edges-out-republican-campaign-poll-jamie-ager-11316985)\n- [12] [Jamie Ager: North Carolina farmer enters race for Congress in western part of state - ABC11 Raleigh-Durham](https://abc11.com/post/jamie-ager-north-carolina-farmer-enters-race-congress-western-part-state/17586288/)\n- [13] [Jamie Ager is projected to win Democratic nomination for N.C. House 11](https://wlos.com/news/local/democratic-nomination-north-carolina-11-congressional-district-primary-election-jamie-ager)\n- [14] [Jamie Ager projected to win Democratic primary in North Carolina's 11th Congressional District - CBS News](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/north-carolina-jamie-ager-11th-district-democratic-primary-results-2026-midterm-electins/)\n- [16] [Jamie Ager enters NC-11 race with message of rural roots, business acumen](https://smokymountainnews.com/news/item/39939-jamie-ager-enters-nc-11-race-with-message-of-rural-roots-business-acumen)\n- [18] [Democrats choose Ager in NC-11 primary race; Edwards wins GOP nod](https://www.bpr.org/politics-government/2026-03-03/democrats-choose-ager-in-nc-11-primary-race-edwards-wins-gop-nod)\n- [19] [The Jamie Ager, Shannon Bird, Christina Bohannan, and Sarah Trone Garriott Endorsements](https://www.welcomestack.org/p/the-jamie-ager-shannon-bird-christina)\n","firstname":"James","lastname":"Ager","middlename":"Peterson","suffix":null,"token":"3c34257757905def"},"token":"ZMnxxtO35Q"}],"choices":null,"description":null,"district":null,"districtgroup":null,"districtgroupname":null,"districtname":null,"job_type":"us_representative","o.office":"us_house","office":"us_house","officedescription":"A United States Representative represents a single congressional district in the lower chamber of Congress, serving a two-year term. Representatives write and pass federal law, originate revenue bills, fund and oversee the executive branch, and serve constituents in dealings with federal agencies.","officequalities":"- Legislative craft at the federal level: reading, drafting, and amending federal statute, and knowing the law being changed.\n- Understanding of the district's economic and everyday concerns, and constituent-service capacity for casework with federal agencies.\n- Persuasion and coalition-building across party and factional lines to form working majorities.\n- Integrity: acting for constituents and the public good rather than personal gain, independent of undue influence.\n- Oversight judgment: the House funds and oversees the executive branch and the military.","officeterm":2,"officetitle":"U.S. Representative","partisan":1,"pgr":"general","quantity":1,"referendum":null,"source":null,"title":"Us House Of Representatives District 11"}