News

VOTER GUIDE: NC House Districts 113 and 117

By Lightning Reports, Published: October 14, 2026

In state House District 113, the smaller of the two House districts in Henderson County, Democrat John Morgan of Saluda is challenging four-term incumbent Rep. Jake Johnson, who lives in Columbus. Johnson did not respond to the Lightning’s candidate survey.

House District 113 covers all of Polk county and parts of McDowell, Rutherford and Henderson counties. Henderson County precincts in the district are Armory, East Flat Rock, Flat Rock, North Blue Ridge, Raven Rock, South Blue Ridge and Southeast.

State House District 117 has been the scene of the most drama this election season. It was the domino that fell when U.S. Rep. Chuck Edwards withdrew from the race, triggering the decision by Republican leaders in the 11th Congressional District to nominate Jennifer Balkcom for the seat. That led in turn to the decision by the Henderson County Republican Party Executive Committee to nominate Chelsea Walsh for the state House seat. Whatever happens on Nov. 3, the district will still be represented by a woman. The Democratic nominee for the seat is Lynne Russo, a communications consultant.

HOUSE DISTRICT 113

Meet the candidates

I’m John Morgan, the married father of two children and two grandchildren. I have a bachelor’s degree in accounting and an MBA. I’m a retired U.S. Air Force lieutenant colonel, retired airline captain and pilot training instructor, a former Saluda city commissioner and small business owner. My hobbies and interests include antique cars, carpentry and community wellbeing.

HOUSE DISTRICT 117

Meet the candidates

My name is Lynne Russo, and I am 55. I chose Hendersonville as my home, and I was here when Hurricane Helene hit. Since then, I have been deeply involved in advocating for recovery in Western North Carolina. I graduated from the University of Minnesota and have owned my communications consulting business for 23 years, working with nonprofits and education organizations. My hobbies include hiking, reading, running, watching hockey and travel.

My name is Chelsea Walsh. I am 38 with two dogs, Maggie and Willett. I graduated from East Henderson High School before earning my degree in Risk Management and Insurance from Appalachian State University. I’ve spent my career in insurance and Medicare, helping individuals and families across the country. Henderson County is my home, and it’s where I hope to raise a family and retire. I’m a Christian, daughter, sister, aunt, friend, mentor and small-business entrepreneur. Outside of work, you’ll usually find me spending time with my dogs, hiking, traveling, singing karaoke, or dreaming up my next business idea.

Why are you running for the North Carolina Legislature?

District 113

Morgan: Families in District 113 work hard — often at more than one job — yet still struggle to afford what used to be basic expectations: a home of their own, strong public schools with well‑paid teachers, accessible healthcare, and reliable childcare. Responsibility has guided my life, from Air Force service to my career as a commercial pilot and my work as Commissioner, City of Saluda. I’m committed to standing up for families so they can thrive, and I won’t lose my resolve under pressure just like I didn’t lose it when Soviet fighters intercepted my aircraft when I was in the military.

District 117

Walsh: Our community needs help. Whether it’s Hurricane Helene funding, fighting the opioid epidemic, lowering property taxes for everyone, including those on fixed incomes- the need to represent the district doesn’t just stop at party talking points. Having grown up in Henderson County, the relationships I’ve spent decades building will be represented well in Raleigh. I’ve been representing Henderson County for decades, even without being on a ballot.

Lynne Russo: I am running because Western North Carolina needs a representative who shows up with real solutions, not slogans. For 16 months, I have sat at kitchen tables, knocked on doors and listened to families still rebuilding after Helene. What I heard shaped a concrete platform: suspending the grocery tax for one year with the state covering lost local revenue, creating a state health insurance option, and launching the Rebuild WNC Skilled Trades Corps to train reconstruction workers. I will work across party lines to lower costs, strengthen public schools, finish Helene recovery and restore local decision making.

With no advanced notice or public debate, the state Legislature in December 2024 changed the law statewide to prohibit towns, cities and counties from “downzoning.” Do you favor that action? Why or why not?

District 113

Morgan: I do not and would not support the state restricting local governments in this way.  As a Saluda City Commissioner, I learned that communities understand their needs far better than outsiders do. What works for Charlotte may not work for Flat Rock. While reasonable state oversight is appropriate for issues like environmental protection and safety, recent legislation appears to prioritize corporate interests over local autonomy. As a former Republican, I find it troubling to see the lawmakers who claim to support limited government impose restrictions that prevent towns from protecting their heritage and quality of life. Zoning decisions of this kind should remain local.

District 117

Lynne Russo: No. Decisions about how our communities grow should stay in local hands. It was especially troubling that this change was tucked into a Helene relief bill while our communities were focused on survival. In Western North Carolina, zoning helps protect farmland, preserve community character and keep growth from overwhelming infrastructure. Large projects like data centers raise serious questions about electricity, water and costs to residents, and I would support a data center moratorium in Henderson County. I support restoring local zoning authority so communities can plan responsibly and protect our quality of life.

Walsh: I believe major changes affecting local land-use authority deserve transparency and public discussion — especially at appropriate hours of the day. Going forward, I would support reviewing the law to ensure we protect property owners while allowing communities appropriate local control over responsible growth. But I support protecting property rights and I understand why the General Assembly acted the way it did. Getting consent from property owners only makes sense.

Concerned about privacy rights and what they regard as intrusive surveillance, residents of the city and county are demanding that cities and Henderson County revoke their Flock Safety contracts and take down the automated license plate readers. Should the state of North Carolina outlaw Flock cameras? Why or why not?

District 113

Morgan: Concerns about Flock cameras are bipartisan. These devices can, and have been misused for personal reasons, showing that current safeguards are inadequate. They also risk monitoring constitutionally protected activities, such as attendance at public gatherings. Communities should be able to make public‑safety decisions within clear guidelines. Given the potential for misuse, pausing their use until stronger protections exist is reasonable and something I support.

District 117

Walsh: This isn’t a hill we need to die on. While the tool in theory seems great, there are still a lot of questions needing answered. The use of AI has gotten ahead of us. It’s time we ask more questions, figure out where the data is going. ALPRs have been used for well over a decade, but these advanced systems may be too much. If we are going to use it, let’s look at the contracts, limit how long data is stored, have a judge sign off on access to limit misuse, and figure out where the data is going.

Lynne Russo: Yes, North Carolina should act. I support an immediate statewide pause on new and renewed contracts, followed by strict statewide rules: warrants for searches, short limits on data storage, no sharing data with federal agencies or other states without a warrant, and regular public audits. If these systems cannot meet those standards, they should come down. Residents deserve to go about their lives without their movements being tracked and stored. This is not a partisan issue. Florida's Republican governor ordered the cameras removed. I would rather invest these dollars in our local police departments.

The recently adopted state budget contained teacher pay raises averaging 8 percent. Do you think North Carolina teacher pay is about where it should be or do you favor higher pay rates?

District 113

Morgan: Fully funding public schools is a top priority for me. Recent raises are not enough. North Carolina has underpaid teachers for years, and the average pay remains below the national average. Redirecting public funds to private school vouchers worsens the problem, since public schools must meet standards and cannot discriminate.  Voucher‑funded private schools are not held to the same requirements. Our teachers are degreed professionals who deserve respect. North Carolina once had a well‑funded, respected public school system with bipartisan support.   I believe we can work together to return to that standard.

District 117

Walsh: I think there’s always room for an increase. Let’s look at the quality of education we want our students to have. Let’s look at the cost of living and figure out if what our teachers are getting paid is enough to live here locally. We want to attract not just good teachers, but great teachers. Let’s also look at health insurance and retirement while we’re at it. Our teachers deserve better.

Lynne Russo: I favor higher teacher pay. Recent raises are welcome, but averages hide gaps. Starting salaries rose about 17%, while many experienced teachers received much smaller raises. We need competitive starting pay and meaningful raises throughout a teacher's career, including recognition for advanced degrees and experience. Teachers should be able to afford to live in the communities where they teach. Sustaining these investments requires stable revenue, which is one reason I oppose permanent constitutional tax caps that could leave the state unable to keep its commitments to teachers or respond to the next disaster like Helene.

What do you see as the biggest challenges for the district you are running in and the state moving ahead in the next 2-4 years and beyond?

District 113

Morgan: My focus is on four major challenges facing District 113; accessible healthcare, strong public schools, affordable childcare, and tax relief for working families and households. Across Polk, Henderson, Rutherford, and McDowell Counties, people consistently raise concerns about backroom deals and corruption. They want practical solutions, not national distractions. Families need affordable health insurance, housing, and schools with the same opportunities found in wealthier areas of the state. These are issues the General Assembly can address, and I am committed to working on them. I appreciate the opportunity to share and welcome continued conversation.

District 117

Lynne Russo: Our biggest challenges are finishing Helene recovery, lowering costs, strengthening public schools and managing growth responsibly. For recovery, I support more state funding for private roads, bridges, housing and small businesses, plus my Rebuild WNC Skilled Trades Corps to train reconstruction workers. I would also suspend the grocery tax for at least one year, with the state replacing lost local revenue, and launch Carolina Health Choice, my state insurance option for people without affordable coverage, including those with preexisting conditions. I will invest in teachers and community colleges, match growth with infrastructure and protect farmland, water and local decision making.

Walsh: Find a way to keep farmers farming without land owners sacrificing  their retirement. Prioritize public safety. There’s a misconception that our area is as safe as it was 20-30 years ago. It’s not. We want to protect our first responders and improve retention. Our seniors also deserve attention, with 25%+ of our district over age 65. Lastly, we must address infrastructure. People are moving here fast, coupled with the delay in Helene funding. Do we have the housing, the roads and the schools to support the growth? We are blessed to live where we live. We need safety, structure and sustainability.