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Issue record

Taxes and federal spending

In short

Balkcom's campaign lists no tax or spending position on the pages checked. Ager's campaign wants those at the top to pay their fair share and no tax on tips; Groo's wants a balanced federal budget and no income tax. On the record, Balkcom voted for the 2023 state budget, which sped up income tax cuts to 3.99% from 2026. That vote covered the whole budget, not taxes alone.

Campaign positions

What each campaign says.

Jennifer Capps Balkcom

No position on taxes or federal spending was found on her campaign site, in her August 10 statement, or in her two ads.

Jamie Ager

He wants the tax code changed so those at the top pay their fair share, no tax on tips for workers, and a ban on stock trading by members of Congress.

Travis Groo

He wants a balanced federal budget and an end to the income tax.

Evidence timeline

What the record shows.

  1. official action

    Jennifer Capps Balkcom: Matches stated direction

    She voted for the 2023 state budget, which sped up income tax cuts to 3.99% from 2026, set a $500 franchise tax on a corporation's first $1 million and repealed a privilege tax.

    Read the full check

    Full detail

    At the same 2022 forum, asked whether she favored continuing to build a business-friendly tax environment, she said yes. She voted for the 2023 budget, House Bill 259, on both final House votes: 69 to 40 on September 21 and 70 to 40 on September 22, 2023. It became law without the governor's signature on October 3, 2023 (Session Law 2023-134). It cut the personal income tax rate faster, to 4.5% for 2024, 4.25% for 2025 and 3.99% from 2026, with further cuts down to 2.49% when revenue passes set targets. It also set the franchise tax at $500 on a C corporation's first $1 million of tax base and repealed the state privilege tax on professionals. Limit: A budget vote covers the whole budget, not just taxes. Her words are from her 2022 state House race; her 2026 campaign has stated no tax position.

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Sources10 source records

How we use sources

  1. Balkcom for Congress, home pagehttps://www.jenniferbalkcom.com/

    Balkcom for Congress · Reviewed Oct 1, 2026

    Campaign-controlled; a short biography, which is the site's whole content. The domain matches the email on her state filing and the donate button goes to WinRed's Balkcom for Congress page. The page shows no 'Paid for by' line. Its /about page carries another candidate's text (a Yakima County commissioner running in Washington), so it is not used.

    candidate statement

    For: Jennifer Capps Balkcom: campaign position

  2. 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

  3. 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

  4. 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

  5. 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

  6. House 117 candidates talk Ecusta Trail, taxes, Medicaid expansionhttps://www.hendersonvillelightning.com/four-seasons-politics/11539-house-117-candidates-talk-ecusta-trail-taxes-medicaid-expansion.html

    Hendersonville Lightning · Published May 1, 2022 · Reviewed Oct 1, 2026

    Reports a Chamber of Commerce forum in the 2022 Republican primary for state House District 117 and prints each candidate's answers. Used only for Balkcom's own answers on Medicaid expansion and business taxes.

    original reporting

    For: Jennifer Capps Balkcom: Matches stated direction

  7. House Bill 259 (2023): 2023 Appropriations Acthttps://www.ncleg.gov/BillLookUp/2023/H259

    North Carolina General Assembly · Reviewed Oct 1, 2026

    The 2023-25 state budget. Became law without the governor's signature on October 3, 2023; Session Law 2023-134.

    official legislative record

    For: Jennifer Capps Balkcom: Matches stated direction

  8. House Roll Call #573, HB 259, conference report (second reading)https://www.ncleg.gov/Legislation/Votes/RollCallVoteTranscript/2023/H/573

    North Carolina General Assembly · Reviewed Oct 1, 2026

    Recorded vote of September 21, 2023 on the House Bill 259 conference report, adopted 69 to 40. The transcript lists Balkcom among the Republican ayes.

    official legislative record

    For: Jennifer Capps Balkcom: Matches stated direction

  9. House Roll Call #589, HB 259, conference report (third reading)https://www.ncleg.gov/Legislation/Votes/RollCallVoteTranscript/2023/H/589

    North Carolina General Assembly · Reviewed Oct 1, 2026

    Recorded vote of September 22, 2023 on the House Bill 259 conference report, adopted 70 to 40. The transcript lists Balkcom among the Republican ayes.

    official legislative record

    For: Jennifer Capps Balkcom: Matches stated direction

  10. Session Law 2023-134https://www.ncleg.gov/EnactedLegislation/SessionLaws/HTML/2023-2024/SL2023-134.html

    North Carolina General Assembly · Reviewed Oct 1, 2026

    The enacted budget. Part XLII sets the personal income tax rate at 4.5% for 2024, 4.25% for 2025 and 3.99% after 2025, with revenue triggers down to 2.49% (Section 42.1); sets the C corporation franchise tax at $500 on the first $1 million of tax base (Section 42.6A); and repeals the state privilege tax on professionals (Section 42.7).

    official legislative record

    For: Jennifer Capps Balkcom: Matches stated direction