Greetings all. We will have time to talk about the most recent Supreme Court decisions - the wins, and the losses - in the coming days but today is the end of the 2nd quarter and it is a day to celebrate and support our courageous candidates running across the country this year.
Excited to share a new interview with Jamie Ager who is running in NC-11 in Western North Carolina. Simply, as you will see from the interview, Jamie is one of our very best candidates running this cycle, and we need to do everything we can to help him win this November.
In our conversation I asked Jamie how he was finding the retail part of campaigning, the part about just being with people on the trail. Here is some of what he said:
I was over in Canton, North Carolina today having lunch with some farmers and some old timers that have deep roots in the community. Just hearing them talk about their family history. And you know, how much these folks care about the community. We’ve got the Eastern band of the Cherokee here in Western North Carolina with so much deep history, legacy, and tradition and culture. For me, to interact with that community, to get to know folks, is so special.
To have access to leaders in the communities who’ve really struggled with Hurricane Helene. We had a big hurricane here back in 2024 in September that devastated so many small towns all over Western North Carolina. So many people are still struggling. Many small businesses are still struggling. So for me, the most important thing I can do in the context of running for Congress is get to know folks. And listen to their stories, hear their stories. That to me is so rewarding because people share their hopes and dreams and their aspirations for what can make Western North Carolina better.
I asked Jamie, a fourth generation farmer, about how the war had effected farmer and ranchers in his district. Here is our exchange:
Simon:
Can you talk a little bit about how the war has impacted the farm, the ag community in the district? The combination of the tariffs and the war has created, it seems, unexpected adversity in what was already a tough time.Jamie:
No question that’s true. The war’s impact, first and foremost, [is] on fuel. And diesel fuel is now over $5/gallon, nowadays. Certainly a few months ago, a lot of farmers were putting crops in the ground, putting fertilizer out. And all those costs just skyrocketed at the wrong time.
My brother has a company, and you know, got tariffed pretty hard. When you have things like erratic tariffs like we had it creates a ton of chaos… and business doesn’t operate particularly well in a chaotic environment. All this activity from the war to the tariffs has created an environment that’s just hard to do business in and it’s hard to execute.
You can support Jamie by donating to our primary House campaign, Winning The House, which splits your donation among twelve top House challengers, including Jamie. You can also donate to him directly here.
If you want to help our other candidates close strong today - and help us match our $70,000 raised yesterday - head back to this morning’s post for the full write up of all our endorsed candidates and state party committees. There so many ways to help us close strong today!
Enjoy this interview with one of our very best candidates, like so more will see it, share it with others, make a filing deadline donation to the candidate or party of your choice, and let’s keep working hard all. We have a country to save, and elections to win, together! - Simon
Bio - Jamie Ager, The Democratic Nominee in NC-11
Watch our first interview with Jamie from back in March.
From Ager For Congress……
I’m Jamie. I’m a fourth-generation farmer, entrepreneur, and proud son of Western North Carolina. Born in Fairview and raised on my family’s Hickory Nut Gap Farm, I’ve spent my life growing food, building community, and working with people. From a young age, my family taught me the values of public service, hard work, and neighborliness.
My great-grandparents helped launch one of the region’s first farm cooperatives. My granddad, Jamie Clarke, served western North Carolina in the U.S. Congress and the state legislature, balancing running the farm with working for the people in office. In fact, he was instrumental in helping to shape early programs like Medicare and Medicaid. I watched those values play out not in politics, but in the lives of our neighbors. My father John served in the State House seat that my older brother, Eric, currently serves in.
I 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. That’s also where I met Amy, my wife and partner in life and business. From 2004 – 2006, I participated in an Agriculture Leadership Development Program through NC State. Together, Amy and I returned to Fairview to raise our family and built Hickory Nut Gap, a sustainable meat company that today supports 25 employees and works with dozens of farmers across the region.
I know firsthand the stress many small business owners and families face — navigating health insurance, making payroll, managing cash flow, and contending with rising costs. I understand why people feel abandoned by both parties, and I’m running to make sure no one feels unseen.
In the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, our community was tested in ways we’d never imagined. Our family lost power and water for weeks, fences were destroyed, livestock scattered, and communication lines were down. But when things were bad, our neighbors showed up and strangers lent a hand.
I was so proud to see how people organized, shared what little they had, and rebuilt together. That experience reaffirmed my belief in the generosity of our community and highlighted how the government often lags behind in times of crisis. It also deepened my resolve to push for smarter, faster, and more responsive systems that actually meet people’s needs.
As the proud father of three sons — Cyrus, Nolin, and Levi — I care deeply about our future. I’m concerned about big challenges like recovering from Hurricane Helene, affordability for working families, and preserving our environment and culture. I’m also outspoken about the need to support local businesses and putting Western North Carolina first. I’ve never been afraid to stand up for what’s right, even if it means speaking out against my own party or taking on extremists.
Western North Carolina deserves a representative who fights for the people, and I’m ready to serve.
