ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — Jamie Ager, a fourth-generation farmer and Democrat from Fairview, announced Thursday he is running for Congress in North Carolina’s 11th Congressional District, setting up a challenge to Republican incumbent Rep. Chuck Edwards.

Ager, who runs Hickory Nut Gap Farm with his family, said his decision to enter the race was fueled by rising costs for working families, threats to Medicaid and what he described as a lack of effective leadership in Washington.

“I know the challenges we face as a country are big,” Ager said in his campaign launch video. “Helping the rich get richer on the backs of hardworking Americans isn’t working, and in my humble opinion, it doesn’t have to be this way.”

Ager cited his firsthand experience with the impact of tariffs on Western North Carolina farmers and the lingering effects of natural disasters like Tropical Storm Helene as key motivators for his campaign. He emphasized a need for “community and cooperation,” saying the federal response to crises often falls short.

“The challenges we face are big, but how we arrive at the answers is probably pretty simple,” Ager said. “Be honest. Be curious. Work together. That’s how you run a farm — imagine if it’s how we ran our country.”

Ager was born and raised in Fairview, where he still lives with his wife, Amy, and their three sons. A graduate of A.C. Reynolds High School and Warren Wilson College, Ager holds degrees in environmental studies and history. He and his wife have grown Hickory Nut Gap into a regional meat producer employing 25 people and partnering with dozens of local farmers.

In his campaign materials, Ager described himself as a proponent of sustainable agriculture, small business and pragmatic policymaking. He said he’s willing to challenge members of both parties if it means standing up for Western North Carolina families.

The 11th District includes Asheville and much of the surrounding region.

Click here to learn more about Ager’s campaign. See his full campaign announcement video.