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Issue record

Cost of living

In short

Balkcom's campaign says she will fight for lower costs and names no specific measure. Ager's campaign backs a bigger child tax credit, childcare grants and help for first-time home buyers; Groo's lists no position on the pages checked. On the record, Balkcom cosponsored a state tax break on overtime and tips that has sat in committee since 2025. She voted for a property tax limit amendment that goes to voters in November 2026.

Campaign positions

What each campaign says.

Jennifer Capps Balkcom

She says she will work to make life more affordable for working families. Her second ad says she will fight for lower costs. She names no specific measure.

Jamie Ager

He backs help for first-time home buyers, energy tax credits, a larger child tax credit and childcare grants, and action against monopolies in food and utilities.

Travis Groo

No position on the cost of living was found. His only statement of positions found is a three-line Ballotpedia survey (budget, income tax, certificate-of-need laws); his party page has no bio and he has no campaign site.

Evidence timeline

What the record shows.

  1. official action

    Jennifer Capps Balkcom: Matches stated direction

    She cosponsored a bill to exempt overtime, tips and some bonuses from state tax, which has had no vote, and a property tax limit amendment going to voters in November 2026.

    Read the full check

    Full detail

    Her statement on winning the nomination says she will work every day to make life more affordable for working families. Her second ad says she will fight for lower costs. She is a cosponsor of House Bill 11 (2025), which would let people deduct overtime pay, tips and up to $2,500 of bonus pay from state taxable income. It has sat in the House Finance Committee since March 11, 2025. She is also a cosponsor of House Bill 1089, a state constitutional amendment requiring the legislature to limit how much local property taxes can rise. She voted for it on both House readings on May 20, 2026 (73 to 46). It goes to voters on November 3, 2026 (Session Law 2026-5). Limit: Affordability covers much more than taxes; this card shows only these two bills. The tips bill has had no floor vote, and the property tax limit needs voters' approval.

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Sources11 source records

How we use sources

  1. Jennifer Balkcom picked as Rep. Edwards' replacement in North Carolina congressional racehttps://wlos.com/news/local/north-carolina-11th-district-republican-jennifer-balkcom-chuck-edwards-replacement-jamie-ager-election

    WLOS · Published Aug 10, 2026 · Reviewed Oct 1, 2026

    Reports the district Republican committee's vote on Monday, August 10, 2026, and quotes her campaign's statement in full. Her campaign site does not carry the statement.

    original reporting

    For: Jennifer Capps Balkcom: campaign position; Jennifer Capps Balkcom: Matches stated direction

  2. NC-11 candidates offer competing 'mountain values' in unique adshttps://ncnewsline.com/2026/09/30/nc-11-candidates-offer-competing-mountain-values-in-unique-ads/

    NC Newsline · Published Sep 30, 2026 · Reviewed Oct 1, 2026

    Transcribes both campaigns' newest ads.

    original reporting

    For: Jennifer Capps Balkcom: campaign position; Jennifer Capps Balkcom: Matches stated direction

  3. Platformhttps://agerforcongress.com/platform

    Ager for Congress · Reviewed Oct 1, 2026

    Campaign-controlled; ten sections. Positions are attributed, not verified facts.

    candidate statement

    For: Jamie Ager: campaign position

  4. Travis Groo, including his 2026 Candidate Connection surveyhttps://ballotpedia.org/Travis_Groo

    Ballotpedia · Reviewed Oct 1, 2026

    His survey answers are his own words, published by Ballotpedia. The page also records his earlier Libertarian runs for the state House in 2018 (District 11) and 2024 (District 36) and the state Senate in 2020 (District 17), all lost in November.

    candidate statement

    For: Travis Groo: campaign position

  5. Travis Groohttps://lp.org/candidate/travis-groo/

    Libertarian Party · Reviewed Oct 1, 2026

    The national party's candidate page. Its bio section is empty; it links x.com/groofornc and facebook.com/groofornc. No campaign website was found: groofornc.com does not resolve and travisgroo.com is a parked domain.

    candidate statement

    For: Travis Groo: campaign position

  6. House Bill 11 (2025): No Tax on Tips, Overtime, Bonus Payhttps://www.ncleg.gov/BillLookUp/2025/H11

    North Carolina General Assembly · Reviewed Oct 1, 2026

    Primary sponsors Warren, Bell, Chesser and Paré; Balkcom is a cosponsor. Last action: re-referred to the Finance Committee, March 11, 2025. Read October 1, 2026.

    official legislative record

    For: Jennifer Capps Balkcom: Matches stated direction

  7. House Bill 11, first edition (document)

    North Carolina General Assembly · Reviewed Oct 1, 2026

    Allows a state income tax deduction for overtime pay, tips and up to $2,500 of bonus pay.

    official legislative record

    For: Jennifer Capps Balkcom: Matches stated direction

  8. House Bill 1089 (2025): Constitutional Amendment Property Tax Levy Limithttps://www.ncleg.gov/BillLookUp/2025/H1089

    North Carolina General Assembly · Reviewed Oct 1, 2026

    Primary sponsors Echevarria, Howard, Setzer and Paré; Balkcom is a cosponsor. Ratified May 21, 2026; Session Law 2026-5.

    official legislative record

    For: Jennifer Capps Balkcom: Matches stated direction

  9. House Roll Call #661, HB 1089, second readinghttps://www.ncleg.gov/Legislation/Votes/RollCallVoteTranscript/2025/H/661

    North Carolina General Assembly · Reviewed Oct 1, 2026

    Recorded vote of May 20, 2026 on House Bill 1089, second reading, passed 73 to 46. The transcript lists Balkcom among the Republican ayes.

    official legislative record

    For: Jennifer Capps Balkcom: Matches stated direction

  10. House Roll Call #662, HB 1089, third readinghttps://www.ncleg.gov/Legislation/Votes/RollCallVoteTranscript/2025/H/662

    North Carolina General Assembly · Reviewed Oct 1, 2026

    Recorded vote of May 20, 2026 on House Bill 1089, third reading, passed 73 to 46. The transcript lists Balkcom among the Republican ayes.

    official legislative record

    For: Jennifer Capps Balkcom: Matches stated direction

  11. Session Law 2026-5https://www.ncleg.gov/EnactedLegislation/SessionLaws/HTML/2025-2026/SL2026-5.html

    North Carolina General Assembly · Reviewed Oct 1, 2026

    Puts on the November 3, 2026 ballot a constitutional amendment requiring the legislature to pass laws limiting how much local property tax levies may increase.

    official legislative record

    For: Jennifer Capps Balkcom: Matches stated direction