{"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","campaigns":[{"contest":"us_house_011","county":"avery","county_count":16,"electiondate":"Tue, 03 Nov 2026 00:00:00 GMT","pgr":"general","state":"nc","title":"Us House Of Representatives District 11"},{"contest":"us_house_011","county":null,"county_count":0,"electiondate":"Tue, 03 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMT","pgr":"general","state":"NC","title":"Us House Of Representatives District 11"}],"cf_filings":[],"firstname":"James","fullname":"James Peterson Ager","lastname":"Ager","middlename":"Peterson","office_history":[{"campaigns":[{"contest":"us_house_011","contest_title":"Us House Of Representatives District 11","county":"avery","county_count":16,"electiondate":"2026-11-03","office_county":null,"office_key":"us_house","office_title":"U.S. Representative","party":"DEM","pgr":"general","state":"nc"},{"contest":"us_house_011","contest_title":"Us House Of Representatives District 11","county":null,"county_count":0,"electiondate":"2026-03-03","office_county":null,"office_key":"us_house","office_title":"U.S. Representative","party":"DEM","pgr":"general","state":"NC"}],"county":null,"cycles":[{"general":{"contest":"us_house_011","contest_title":"Us House Of Representatives District 11","county":null,"county_count":0,"electiondate":"2026-03-03","office_county":null,"office_key":"us_house","office_title":"U.S. Representative","party":"DEM","pgr":"general","state":"NC"},"party":"DEM","primary":null,"term":null,"year":2026}],"office_key":"us_house","office_title":"U.S. Representative","state":"NC","terms":[]}],"summary":"Jamie Ager is the Democratic candidate for NC\u201111 U.S. House, a fourth\u2011generation farmer emphasizing Hurricane Helene recovery, affordable health care and rural economic development.","terms":[],"token":"3c34257757905def"}