Jennifer Balkcom, Jake Johnson win Republican primaries for NC House seats

Sitting state House Reps. Jennifer Balkcom and Jake Johnson came out ahead in GOP primaries for 2 NC House seats.

Published on Mar. 4, 2026

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Sitting North Carolina state House Reps. Jennifer Balkcom and Jake Johnson successfully defended against challengers Mike Hager and Christopher Wilson in the Republican primaries for their respective state House seats, according to unofficial vote tallies from the North Carolina State Board of Elections.

Why it matters

The victories for Balkcom and Johnson in the Republican primaries mean they will advance to the general election in November, where they will face Democratic opponents. The outcome of these races could impact the balance of power in the North Carolina state legislature.

The details

In the District 117 Republican primary, Balkcom received 5,970 votes, or just over 76% of the vote, defeating challenger Christopher Wilson who received 1,866 votes, close to 24%. In the District 113 Republican primary, Johnson received 7,318 votes, 61%, compared to challenger Mike Hager's 4,663 votes, or 39%.

  • The Republican primaries were held on March 3, 2026.
  • With 97% of precincts reporting, the results were announced around 11 p.m. on March 3.

The players

Jennifer Balkcom

Sitting North Carolina state House Representative for District 117, which covers part of Henderson County. She was elected to the state House in 2022, succeeding now-state Sen. Tim Moffitt.

Jake Johnson

Sitting North Carolina state House Representative for District 113, which includes Polk County and parts of Henderson, Rutherford and McDowell counties. He was appointed to the General Assembly in 2019 and previously served on the Polk County Board of Commissioners.

Mike Hager

A challenger in the District 113 Republican primary. He is a former state House Representative, serving from 2011 to 2016, and has worked as a consultant and lobbyist since then.

Christopher Wilson

A challenger in the District 117 Republican primary. He is the executive director of the Salvation Army-affiliated holiday charity Bounty of Bethlehem and the director of music bands at Polk County Middle School.

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What they’re saying

“After an extremely hard-fought campaign, I want to thank God, my family and our friends across the district for last night's results. Due to the hard work of so many of you, we were able to get our message out and deliver huge victories in all 4 counties. I will continue working to stand up for our shared values, address the concerns that impact daily lives here in the district and promote our vision for the future. I am so grateful for this opportunity and it is my honor to get back to work on your behalf.”

— Jake Johnson (Times-News)

What’s next

In November, Balkcom will go up against Democrat Lynne Russo, who ran unopposed in the Democratic primary. Democrat Mason Rhodes, who was also running unopposed in the primary for District 113, withdrew from the race.

The takeaway

The victories for Balkcom and Johnson in the Republican primaries demonstrate the continued influence of conservative candidates in North Carolina's state legislature. The general election in November will be an important test of the political landscape in these districts.