Moffitt Out of the Running; Balkcom, In?

 

Jennifer Balkcom

 

Tim Moffitt has announced that he's no longer a candidate to replace Chuck Edwards on the November ballot for the 11th District congressional seat. Andrew Dunn sez on his Longleaf Politics substack that now, with Moffitt out of it, Rep. Jennifer Balkcom (HD 117) is probably the frontrunner. The 61-member Republican executive committee for the 11th CD will meet tonight and vote on Edwards's replacement.

Balkcom is a culture warrior, particularly hot on the topic of transgender and abortion and restrictions on ballot access. She has strong roots in Henderson County. She's been a banker for much of her adult life and currently earns her living as a mortgage loan officer.

With Moffitt out of contention, probably the strongest politician to replace him would be Ralph Hise, one of the most powerful Republicans in the state senate who happens to represent Watauga and several other Western counties in the most recent gerrymandering of the maps. Hise pretty much drew those maps. And wouldn't it be wonderful to lose him as Watauga's senator! He'd do us far less damage in Mugstomp-on-the-Potomac, but he'd be a fool to give up his seniority in the NC Senate to become a back-bencher in the US House.

Maybe Balkcom will do it. She has the look of a true believer and may think the appointment is a compliment.