ASHEVILLE - Vice President JD Vance is coming to Western North Carolina Oct. 19, hoping to give Republicans a boost in a congressional race that has become increasingly competitive just two weeks before the midterm elections.
Vance will appear at a Republican campaign rally in Hendersonville, according to an announcement from the Republican National Committee.
The visit comes as Republicans fight to maintain their congressional majorities amid mounting political headwinds for President Donald Trump and his party. The visit is also likely connected to the candidacy of Republican state House Rep. Jennifer Balkcom, who faces Democrat Jamie Ager in North Carolina's 11th Congressional District.
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Balkcom, a state legislator from Henderson County, entered the race after incumbent Republican Chuck Edwards withdrew his reelection bid amid controversy over his conduct toward female staffers. The House subsequently censured Edwards Sept. 1. Edwards continues to serve.
Ager, a farmer from Fairview, has made affordability, health care and disaster recovery central issues in his campaign.
Earlier this month and, through a spokesperson, Balkcom declined an interview with the Citizen Times, citing scheduling issues. The denial came after a September Spectrum News interview in which she paused for 13 seconds before saying she was unsure whether Edwards should resign, an exchange later mocked by comedian John Oliver on HBO's "Last Week Tonight."
The district, which covers much of Western North Carolina, has long favored Republicans. Trump won it by approximately 12 percentage points in 2024, but political analysts have increasingly viewed the contest as competitive.Sabato's Crystal Ball, a political forecasting publication at the University of Virginia, moved the race from Lean Republican to Toss-up on July 30. The Cook Political Report followed suit Sept. 25, shifting its rating from Lean Republican to Toss Up, reflecting growing uncertainty over Republican prospects in a district that had previously been considered safely Republican.
Vance's appearance could help energize conservative voters in Henderson County, an important Republican stronghold in the district. The vice president has become one of the administration's most prominent campaign surrogates, particularly in areas where Republicans hope to defend vulnerable congressional seats.
His visit also comes as early voting is underway across North Carolina. The early voting period began Oct. 15 and continues through Oct. 31, ahead of Election Day on Nov. 3.
North Carolina Senate race also draws national attention
Western North Carolina is also playing a role in the nationally watched U.S. Senate contest between Republican Michael Whatley and former Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper.
Whatley, a former Republican National Committee chairman, has been endorsed by Trump, but recent polling has shown Cooper with a substantial advantage.
The Senate race has major national implications, with Republicans defending their majority in a chamber that could determine the fate of Trump's legislative agenda during the final two years of his term.
Trump administration actively campaigning in Republican districts
Vance's stop is part of a broader campaign push by the administration across the Carolinas.
Trump is scheduled to hold a rally in Greenville, North Carolina, Oct. 20, followed by an appearance in Clemson, South Carolina, Oct. 21.
The appearances reflect Republican efforts to motivate their base in a midterm election where the president's party faces an increasingly difficult political environment.
For Western North Carolina voters, the campaign also unfolds against the backdrop of Tropical Storm Helene, which devastated the region in September 2024.
Federal disaster assistance, infrastructure reconstruction and the pace of recovery have remained politically contentious, particularly as communities continue rebuilding more than two years after the storm.
Vance's Hendersonville appearance will place one of the administration's highest-ranking officials directly in a region where those unresolved recovery challenges intersect with the national debate over the Trump administration's performance.
Cory Vaillancourt is the Helene Recovery/Investigations Reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times. Find him on X at @The_CoryV or on Signal, via email at cvaillancourt@citizentimes.com or at 912-508-5640.
This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: JD Vance to rally Republicans in Western North Carolina
