NC-11 candidates offer competing 'mountain values' in unique ads
Jennifer Balkcom’s ad uses a story about her mother to present her as tough and committed to lower costs, recovery funding and healthcare.

SOURCE CHECK
TAP FOR WHYCredibility rates The Asheville Citizen Times, where this article appeared. The other scores rate the article itself.
The reporting is attributed to NC Newsline, an identified nonprofit newsroom, while the page appears in an established regional newspaper. The named author and newsroom attribution support transparency, though this page does not provide much information about corrections practices.
- Author attribution — The author is named, and the article identifies her newsroom affiliation.
- Source type — An established regional newspaper carries reporting credited to a nonprofit state-news outlet.
- Transparency — The article attributes campaign statements and expert analysis to named sources.
The article describes both candidates’ ads, includes statements from campaign representatives and an independent political science professor, and notes that Balkcom’s campaign did not respond. It offers useful context on the race, though the perspectives are largely conveyed through campaign messaging and one expert.
HOW WE SCORE ↗Both candidates’ ads are described, and the article includes comments from representatives of both parties and an independent professor. Balkcom’s campaign did not respond to the outlet’s requests, leaving some asymmetry in direct campaign comment.
- Source diversity — The article includes campaign representatives from both parties and an independent political science professor.
- Loaded language — Strongly partisan language appears in attributed campaign statements rather than in the article's own voice.
- Counterarguments presented — The opposing campaign’s criticism is included, but Balkcom’s campaign did not provide a direct response.
The article presents the candidates’ ads and opposing campaign responses without adopting either side’s political framing. Its descriptions and expert commentary do not show a discernible partisan lean.
- Source selection — The article includes messages and responses from both major-party campaigns, along with an outside academic's analysis.
- Language tone — The descriptions are largely factual and attribute campaign claims to their speakers.
- Framing — The story focuses on the contrast between the ads and their local appeal rather than endorsing either candidate.
Original publisher not identified
This article credits another publisher, which ChamberLight has not identified, so the scores are The Asheville Citizen Times's own.
North Carolina’s 11th District candidates Jamie Ager and Jennifer Balkcom released contrasting campaign ads aimed at the same rural audience. A political science professor said Balkcom’s ad has drawn more attention and may help raise her name recognition.
Ager’s ad features a barn dance and presents him as a community-minded farmer; he says he would take on corporate greed and fight for Western North Carolina’s Helene recovery funds. His campaign manager described the dances as part of the campaign’s effort to bring the community together. Balkcom’s ad features her mother and a story about a home break-in, and says Balkcom will fight for lower costs, Helene funding and better healthcare.
The Republican and Democratic congressional campaign committees were involved in the ads, and their spokespeople criticized the opposing campaign’s message. Political science professor Chris Cooper said the ads were unusually specific to the district and that Balkcom’s spot had received more attention and criticism than Ager’s. He said the attention could help address Balkcom’s low name recognition; the article notes she entered the race after Rep. Chuck Edwards withdrew.
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SWIPE →Republican candidate for North Carolina’s 11th Congressional District; released a campaign ad
Democratic candidate for North Carolina’s 11th Congressional District; released a campaign ad
Ager's version of this story ↗U.S. representative who withdrew from the race
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