Politics

Ager outpaces Edwards in third quarter fundraising by wide margin

By Lightning Reports, Published: October 14, 2025

Jamie Ager, a Democratic candidate for the 11th Congressional District seat held by U.S. Rep. Chuck Edwards, outraised the incumbent by a 3-to-1 margin in the third quarter, Ager's campaign announced.

Ager raised $340,511 compared to Edwards's total of $98,608, and held a narrow lead in cash on hand — $227,722 compared to $205,513. Ager’s campaign haul came from more than 4,500 individual contributions and no corporate PAC money.

“I’m proud of the campaign we’ve put together since launching in late July,” Ager said in a news release. “This campaign is about bringing people together from across Western North Carolina around our shared values, and our strong start is proof of our momentum.”

A fourth-generation farmer and entrepreneur, Ager was born in Fairview and raised on his family’s Hickory Nut Gap Farm. He graduated from A.C. Reynolds High School and earned degrees from Warren Wilson College in environmental studies with a concentration in sustainable agriculture and history. There, he met Amy, his wife and partner in life and business. Together, they returned to Fairview to start a family and run the family cattle farm, a sustainable meat company that today supports 25 employees and works with dozens of farmers across the region. He and his wife have three sons — Cyrus, Nolin, and Levi.

Among the challenges Ager pledges to tackle are recovering from Hurricane Helene, affordability for working families and preserving the environment and culture, his campaign said.