Jamie Ager

Democrat

CEO, Hickory Nut Gap Farm

Non-Incumbent · Public Record

R2B

PIP Political Integrity Pledge · Political Integrity PAC

No Corporate PAC Money
Stock Trading Ban
Lobbying Ban for Former Members
Overturn Citizens United

Primary: November 3, 2026 Last updated 2026-04-28

59.6%

+0.5 from Political Integrity Pledge

Top positive drivers

T3 Explicitly supports ban on congressional stock trading as specific policy plank. 3.75/4
T4 Supports campaign finance reform; FEC data shows $1.54M individual vs $137K committee; grassroots model. 3.75/4
T7 A-B Tech debate; candidate forums; BPR, WLOS, Smoky Mountain News, Newsweek interviews. 3.75/4

Top negative drivers

T2 No evidence of proactive financial disclosure beyond FEC minimums; no tax returns released. 0/4
T15 No positions found on AI transparency or technology use disclosure. 0/4
T18 No specific position on education transparency mechanisms. 0/4

View all 25 criteria

T1 Campaign events across WNC; A-B Tech forum; multiple candidate forums. No specific town hall frequency published. 2.88/4
T2 No evidence of proactive financial disclosure beyond FEC minimums; no tax returns released. 0/4
T3 Explicitly supports ban on congressional stock trading as specific policy plank. 3.75/4
T4 Supports campaign finance reform; FEC data shows $1.54M individual vs $137K committee; grassroots model. 3.75/4
T5 FEC filings transparent; 5600+ donors. No proactive donor dashboard on website. 2.88/4
T6 Platform page with 10 issue areas; press page; local media interviews (BPR/WLOS/Smoky Mountain News). 2.88/4
T7 A-B Tech debate; candidate forums; BPR, WLOS, Smoky Mountain News, Newsweek interviews. 3.75/4
T8 314 Action Fund; WelcomePAC; Blue Dog PAC; DCCC Red to Blue endorsements. 2.88/4
T9 Active social media; press page; local media engagement; campaign events. 2.88/4
T10 Farmer-to-voter communication style; household-level examples; plain language throughout. 3.50/4
T11 Supports Medicare drug price negotiation and insulin price caps. 2.88/4
T12 Addresses housing costs generally. No specific transparency mechanism named. 1.25/4
T13 Challenges monopolization in food and utility industries; addresses hidden costs. 2.88/4
T14 Supports federal spending transparency; ensuring every dollar is spent where needed most. 2.88/4
T15 No positions found on AI transparency or technology use disclosure. 0/4
T16 Supports crime-prevention programs. No specific accountability mechanisms named. 1.25/4
T17 Supports clear, fair immigration policies; criticizes ICE behavior; wants understandable system. 2.88/4
T18 No specific position on education transparency mechanisms. 0/4
T19 Supports voting as bedrock of democracy. No specific mechanisms named. 1.25/4
T20 Supports stronger ethics and anti-corruption rules; federal spending transparency. 2.88/4
T21 Active media engagement with BPR, WLOS, Smoky Mountain News, Carolina Journal, Newsweek. 2.88/4
T22 No fact-check ratings found. Claims appear verifiable. No documented false claims. 2.88/4
T23 No positions on whistleblower protections or IG independence. 0/4
T24 No positions on FOIA reform or open data. 0/4
T25 Campaign positions consistent with personal history: farmer, small business owner, WNC native, sustainable agriculture. 3.75/4

67.8%

Top positive drivers

E6 $1.69M raised from 5600+ donors; won primary 65%; built Hickory Nut Gap to regional brand (Whole Foods). 4/4
E9 Built Hickory Nut Gap to 25-employee brand; 20+ producer farm network; raised $1.69M; won primary 65%. 4/4
E4 Campaign community engagement; farm cooperative heritage; 25 employees at Hickory Nut Gap; Buncombe County Farm Bureau. 3.75/4

Top negative drivers

E23 No positions on responding to GAO/IG audit findings. 0/4
E25 No positions on IG independence or agency performance reviews. 0/4

View all 25 criteria

E1 Proposals lack built-in evaluation mechanisms, sunset clauses, or benchmarks. 1.25/4
E2 References local economic data (wage data, Helene damage estimates $60-100B); NC State Ag Leadership program. 2.88/4
E3 Supports cutting regulatory burdens; improving government user-friendliness and efficiency. 2.88/4
E4 Campaign community engagement; farm cooperative heritage; 25 employees at Hickory Nut Gap; Buncombe County Farm Bureau. 3.75/4
E5 Supports expanding rural broadband and cell coverage; digital connectivity for farms. 2.88/4
E6 $1.69M raised from 5600+ donors; won primary 65%; built Hickory Nut Gap to regional brand (Whole Foods). 4/4
E7 Producer network of 20+ farms; Whole Foods partnership; Blue Dog endorsement; willingness to work with Republicans. 3.75/4
E8 20+ years running a business; acknowledges bureaucratic obstacles in Helene recovery. 2.88/4
E9 Built Hickory Nut Gap to 25-employee brand; 20+ producer farm network; raised $1.69M; won primary 65%. 4/4
E10 Supports term limits and institutional reform; cut regulatory burdens; campaign finance reform. 2.88/4
E11 Public option; Medicare drug negotiation; insulin caps; expand Medicare dental/vision/home care. 3.75/4
E12 Supports increasing housing supply; first-time homebuyer programs; farmland preservation. 2.88/4
E13 Supports tax credits for energy efficiency; sustainable agriculture with regenerative grazing. 2.88/4
E14 Supports comprehensive immigration reform; balance worker needs with community safety. 2.88/4
E15 Mentions teaching personal finance in schools. Limited education platform. 1.25/4
E16 Supports crime-prevention addressing root causes; increased law enforcement compensation; disaster preparedness. 2.88/4
E17 Small business loans; Hurricane Helene relief; rural broadband; agriculture markets; built business creating 25 jobs. 3.13/4
E18 Federal spending transparency; cut bureaucratic red tape for Helene recovery. 2.88/4
E19 Supports investment in roads, bridges, clean water, broadband; Helene rebuilding. 2.88/4
E20 Supports VA protection. No specific cost-effectiveness comparison of defense approaches. 1.25/4
E21 Cut red tape for Helene recovery funds; expand VA clinic access; mobile health units. 2.88/4
E22 Tax code reform requiring top earners pay fair share; eliminate taxes on tips. 2.88/4
E23 No positions on responding to GAO/IG audit findings. 0/4
E24 Acknowledges regulations often disconnected from realities; supports pragmatic reform. 2.88/4
E25 No positions on IG independence or agency performance reviews. 0/4

81%

Top positive drivers

A1 References local costs: $12/hr average wages; discusses housing, healthcare, grocery, energy costs in WNC context. 3.75/4
A6 Campaign directly responsive to cost pressures and Hurricane Helene. Entered race responding to WNC cost crisis. 3.75/4
A9 Consistently frames economics in household terms: math of wages vs cost of living; family budget context. 3.75/4

Top negative drivers

A19 No specific transportation affordability positions found. 0/4

View all 25 criteria

A1 References local costs: $12/hr average wages; discusses housing, healthcare, grocery, energy costs in WNC context. 3.75/4
A2 Cites WNC wage data; Hurricane Helene damage estimates ($60-100B); farm operational data. 2.88/4
A3 Campaign addresses cost pressures; farm provides local food access; supports SNAP/WIC. 2.88/4
A4 Challenges monopolization in food and utility industries; direct experience as small producer competing against large ag. 2.88/4
A5 Discusses household cost impacts: wages vs. cost of living framing. 2.88/4
A6 Campaign directly responsive to cost pressures and Hurricane Helene. Entered race responding to WNC cost crisis. 3.75/4
A7 Tax code reform; challenges special interest spending; connects spending to community needs. 2.88/4
A8 Challenges monopolization in food and utility industries; references corporate price impacts. 2.88/4
A9 Consistently frames economics in household terms: math of wages vs cost of living; family budget context. 3.75/4
A10 Affordability is central to platform: tackling costs alongside Helene recovery; 5+ affordability sections. 3.75/4
A11 Public option; Medicare drug negotiation; insulin caps; expand Medicare; defend Medicaid; mental health. 3.75/4
A12 Increase housing supply; first-time homebuyer programs; public service employee housing; farmland preservation. 2.88/4
A13 Expand childcare grants and child tax credits; teach personal finance in schools. 2.88/4
A14 Reform tax code for fair share; eliminate taxes on tips; expand child tax credit. 2.88/4
A15 Challenges monopolization in food and utility; supports reducing special interest influence. 2.88/4
A16 References $12/hr wages in WNC; argues for raising wages; employs 25 at living wages. 2.88/4
A17 Strengthen SNAP/WIC; challenge food monopolization; school-farm partnerships; sustainable food system builder. 3.75/4
A18 Tax credits for energy efficiency; challenges utility monopolization; sustainable agriculture. 2.88/4
A19 No specific transportation affordability positions found. 0/4
A20 Connects healthcare, housing, food, energy, childcare, wages into cohesive affordability vision. 3.75/4
A21 Small business owner managing health insurance/payroll; built local food system; platform matches business practices. 3.75/4
A22 Explicitly defends Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, VA, SNAP, WIC, ACA. 3.75/4
A23 Addresses low-income (SNAP/WIC), seniors, families, veterans, public service employees, rural communities. 2.88/4
A24 Policies cover workers, families, seniors, veterans, farmers, small business, students, rural communities. 3.75/4
A25 DCCC Red to Blue; 314 Action; WelcomePAC; Blue Dog PAC; Pete Buttigieg; Carolina Farm Stewardship. 2.88/4

Scored from publicly available information. Research in progress.

Platform research is in progress.

Non-Incumbent · Public Record

Scored on publicly available information only — platform statements, prior office, news coverage. Same criteria as the Questionnaire pathway, without direct candidate input.

Scoring Summary

Axis	Base	Pledge Bonus	Final
Transparency	59.6%	+0.5	60.1%
Efficiency	67.8%	—	67.8%
Affordability	81%	—	81%
Overall TEA	Average of the three axes		69.5%

Read the full methodology →

Financial Breakdown

Financial detail — individual giving, PAC contributions, transfers, and personal finances — will appear here when FEC data ingestion ships. This tab is reserved so the layout stays consistent when the feature launches.