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Good morning to you. We start off with what is set to be a very interesting day in western North Carolina as members of the GOP's Executive Committee for District 11 are set to meet this evening in Bunkham County to determine who their replacement candidate is going to be for Congress. Those members are going to meet after what was a very chaotic and hectic week last week. It started one week ago today when the House Ethics Committee in Washington, D.C. released a detailed report highlighting violations of House rules related to sexual harassment.
and creating a hostile work environment. Those were placed at the feet of Congressman Chuck Edwards, the Republican currently serving in that seat in NC 11. With that, it was just about 36 hours later that Edwards took to social media at 3.30 a.m. Wednesday morning last week to announce that while he would not be resigning his seat, he would, in fact, be dropping out of the race and would not be running in the November midterm election. Under North Carolina state law, when a candidate withdraws this close to the election, early voting opening now in just about two months, the political party, in this case, the Republican Party, will select a replacement nominee.
There is no second primary election. North Carolina's 11th congressional district is made up of 16 counties, including Avery, Buncom, Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Mitchell, Polk, Swain, Transylvania, and Yancey County. Yeah. It was a lot of movement on this over the weekend. State Senator Tim Moffitt, the Republican from Henderson County that appeared to be the frontrunner in this race, took to social media over the weekend to announce that he would not decide to run, taking to social media just a couple of days ago, saying in part, after careful consideration, I have decided not to seek the Republican nomination for North Carolina's 11th congressional district.
My responsibilities to my family and businesses would not allow me to commit more than a few years in Congress. Western North Carolina deserves a representative who can give the full measure of time, both day to day and over the long term. Anything less would be unfair to the people of this district. I am deeply grateful for the outpouring of support and encouragement I received over the past few days. Your confidence in me has been both humbling and meaningful, and I will not soon forget it.
I remain fully committed to serving the citizens of Senate District 48 and look forward to continuing the work on behalf of the communities that I am proud to represent.
So that was Tim Moffitt, State Senator Tim Moffitt, who was seen as one of the affrontrunners for this. He had taken to social media last week to announce that he was talking to individuals close to him to determine whether he would run for this or really accept the nomination for this seat. Change of heart there, change of mind over the weekend.
So that is not happening. We also learned that state senator Kevin Corbin, the Republican from Macon County, said that while he appreciated everybody's encouragement and support, he will not seek the nomination. And Adam Smith, who ran against Edwards in the March primary but lost by more than 40 points, took to social media late Sunday evening to announce he was not interested in the position as well. He, in a lengthy post on Facebook, said, Western North Carolina, to say that I am humbled by the outpouring of support would be an understatement. As you all know, Chuck Edwards' conduct has left this district in a bad way.
The warning signs were there before the primary election, and that is exactly why my team and I. Stepped into the arena. Western North Carolina deserves leadership of character. We did come up short in March, and I own that, but the mission was never about me. Let's also be blunt about what's at stake.
If Jamie Ager wins this seat, he'll end up in lockstep with the rest of the Democrat Party supporting an agenda that is not in the best interest of the American people. That cannot happen. For four days straight, my phone has not stopped. Patriots from every corner of this district have called on me to step up and seek the Republican nomination for NC 11. I told you that nothing was off the table and it wasn't.
However, I owe you a real answer, not a fast one. An answer that required much prayer and conversation with my family and mentors. I have decided not to seek the nomination. I want to be direct about my reasons. I have never run from a fight in my life, not overseas and not at home.
And I know what it takes to win a battle in 87 days. Infrastructure already built and the full weight of the party commitment from day one, the stakes are too high for anything less. This seat must stay in conservative hands, and the best way I can serve that mission right now is to help our party unite immediately behind its nominee instead of dividing it on the eve of the battle. But hear me on this. I'm not going anywhere.
I will keep looking for every opportunity to serve the people of Western North Carolina at the local level, the state level, or the federal level, whatever the call comes tomorrow or years from now.
So that is Adam Smith announcing Sunday evening around 9 p.m. that he was not going to accept the nomination either, which was pretty significant with a lot of the frontrunners that were expected late last week. Week not determining that they were not going to seek that nomination. Late last night as well, Representative Jennifer Balcombe, the House member out of House District 117, that is Henderson County, has announced, well, she's in. Taking to social media, she posted, for eight generations, my family has called Western North Carolina home.
My roots run deep in these mountains, and the people, values, and the way of life here are woven into every part of who I am. Serving the people of western North Carolina in the State House has been one of the greatest honors of my life. I am grateful for the outpouring of encouragement I've received to pursue the Republican nomination for North Carolina's 11th congressional district. I hadn't planned to go to Washington, but I've learned through my life that when your community needs you, you don't sit on the sidelines, you step up. Western North Carolina needs a strong voice right now.
Our communities are still rebuilding from Hurricane Helene. Our farmers, families, and small businesses need someone who understands them. And too often, Washington simply doesn't understand the people, values, and challenges of our mountains.
So, after much prayer, reflection, and conversation with my family, I'm in. I will seek the Republican nomination for North Carolina's 11th congressional district. This race is too important to sit out. We must hold this seat, preserve our mountain values, work with the Trump administration to continue building western North Carolina, and make sure Washington never forgets the people who call these mountains home. I'm a Henderson County farm girl.
I know what it means to work hard, fight for what you believe in, and protect something so the next generation can inherit it. That's the roots. Those roots are why I fight so hard for this place because Western North Carolina isn't just where I live. It's home. Western North Carolina is worth fighting for, and I am ready to get to work.
Signed, Representative Jennifer Balcombe, who for all intended purposes is the frontrunner in this race right now. It will be the executive committee of North Carolina's 11th GOP, 16 counties out west that will be meeting at 6.30 tonight in Buncombe County, where that executive committee, which is about 30, a little more than 30 members from all estimation, will meet and decide who their candidate will be, whoever that individual will be. They will have just 86 days to put together a full-throated campaign to take on Jamie Agar, the Democrat candidate in NC-11, who is a fundraiser. Raised pretty significantly over the last few months. We will be keeping a very close eye on those details throughout the day and into the evening hours.
We'll have the latest over on our website, as always, CarolinaJournal.com. And coming up tomorrow morning, we'll bring you the latest right here on the Carolina Journal News Hour. Hey, before your Q3 call, I've got the campaign brief ready, built from last quarter's data and the competitive landscape. Great. Did you include the differentiation angle the CMO asked for?
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Hmm, somewhere with a lot more tabs open. Create your first Monday agent in minutes at monday.com. It's 521. Welcome back to the Carolina Journal News Hour, Charlotte's FM News Talk, 107.9 FM, WBT. Last week, some controversy brewing in the state of North Carolina as Miss North Carolina USA was stripped of her title in early August.
Brittany Bolton House of Duplin County was crowned Miss North Carolina USA in June of this year, but just a couple of days ago, late last week, she was stripped of her title. The Miss USA organization said that Bolton House did not uphold their organization standards, but she believes that her Mormon faith and outspoken conservative views may have played a role in that decision. Neither the Miss USA national organization nor the production company, who organizes many of these Miss USA pageants in several southeastern states, responded to Carolina Journal's request for comment. Or for material supporting their decision to strip Bolton House of her crown and her opportunity to compete in the 75th annual Miss USA pageant, which is scheduled for late August in Miami.
However, the CEO of the organization posted a statement in part on social media last week saying, The Miss USA organization does not tolerate racism, homophobia, transphobia, nor language that strips anybody of their dignity, whoever they are. What was brought to us was not a single moment. It reflected conduct over an extended period of time. Online reports from the NCBET.com and other news outlets contain screenshots of a 2017 posts from 2017 on social media that are allegedly tied to Bolton House, repeatedly using a slang term for a racial slur. The reports also show critics.
Commenting on Boltenhouse's political views and including images from a 2024 post showing Boltenhouse supporting President Donald Trump. Boltenhouse's own YouTube channel explores her experience of living the Mormon faith. She is a resident of southeastern North Carolina. The editor-in-chief of Carolina Journal Donna King had the opportunity, the exclusive opportunity to sit down with Brittany Bolton House, who was crowned Miss North Carolina USA. Here's part one of that interview from late last week.
Hi, I'm Donna King, editor-in-chief of Carolina Journal. Today we're talking with Brittany Bolton House. Brittany was crowned Miss North Carolina USA, but then was stripped of her title. The pageant system says that their standards were not upheld, but Ms. Bolton House believes that perhaps her outspoken conservative views may have played a role in this process here to tell the rest of the story.
Thank you for joining us. I appreciate it. Thank you. Yes, I'm glad you're here.
So walk me through the process. What happened this week? I know this was a huge shock. It was a lot. It was a huge shock, I will say.
It was a lot of, obviously, emotional roller coaster, but it's also a blessing in disguise, I feel like. I am very much at peace, and I'm actually glad it happened to me and not some other young lady that, you know, maybe just probably wouldn't make it through what I'm going through right now. The scrutiny, my family behind it as well. But I will say that I'm very much at peace, and I see the light at the end of the tunnel, and I know who I am, and I know what I can become. Sure, sure.
We've tried to reach out to the pageant system, some of its leadership. and not gotten response as of the time of this recording. One of the things that they said was that this was a pattern. It wasn't a one-time event. But you think there might be more to the story.
Tell me from your perspective what you're seeing.
So I will say because I have a confidentiality clause, I'm not allowed to speak about things, but as of today, I believe and think I was stripped from my title because of my political stance and my belief system as a conservative Christian woman.
Okay, tell me more about that. I had a chance to see your YouTube and some of the videos that you've seen. You talk a little bit about the challenges of being a Mormon woman in today's society. Tell me how you think that that, one, how meaningful it is to you and how important that is to you, but also how that may have played a role in this case.
So I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I'm also a member, excuse me, I'm known as a Mormon as well.
Some people know as Mormon or LDS. But I am proud of my faith. I'm proud of my standards. I'm a proud conservative woman, but a Christian woman. I'm a God-fearing.
I believe that we, where is this a phrase, stand ye in holy places at all times and in all things and all places. And you know, I will never let my guard down for my faith. And also, I love this country. That's something I want to make something clear. I believe in land prosperity and priesthood, and I believe that.
America is what it gives is that is I believe we believe a nation under under God and that's who I am and that's what my parents taught me to be is a person who loves this country because this country I gave this country has given me opportunity and the opportunity of to show my religious beliefs and I'm proud of that. Sure. You've also had some strong political beliefs online. Did you get a chance, do you get a sense of to the degree you can share at this point? Because I know that there's some relationships.
Yes, of course. Have you gotten criticism or do you get criticism or do you get a sense that your conservative political and social values have harmed you in this process or have led Partially led to this? I will say that there's a lot of speculation out there and perspective and understanding of things that I've. uh s speculated that Of my belief system, but I will say this: that at the end of the day, I know who I am, the principles that I stand on as a woman. And I, again, a lot of EQ speculation, right?
The way that people can interpret things, but I know what I stand for at the end of the day. Sure, sure. Do you think that being a conservative is disqualifying to a degree in the pageant system? No, I think that I think it, I think in any sense, not just in pageantry, I think you have the right to be a conservative in this country. It's a constitutional right.
Not specifically speaking on, you know, with them, I believe that everyone has a right to say what they want to say and feel the way they want to feel. Like I said, it is a constitutional right, yes, ma'am. Sir, do you think that the leadership of the pageantal system sees it that way, or do they see conservatism, support for President Trump, that kind of thing as disqualifying? I don't know. I don't know.
All I can say from the information that I have today and what I believe and I think Is honestly, I don't know. That wasn't really given anything. Sure, sure. I'm going to read you the mission of the Miss USA system. And I want your reaction, if I could.
The mission of the Miss USA system is to elevate the next generation of confident, purpose-driven women by providing a fair, Transparent and transformative platform where leadership, culture, and opportunity intersect through the MISUSA and MS-TENUSA experience. Let's talk a little bit about. Those three things, fair and transparent. Do you think that this was a fair and transparent process? I will say, I want to also, I'm not here to diminish the Miss USA organization nor you know the state directors that are at the time.
I had a great experience with them. I will say I'm positive, they were great, but then once things got, you know, things arose, there was a lot of unclarity. And like I said, I can't speak on that because of my confidentiality. But I will say that I'm honestly, I don't know, and I can't say that, but all I can say is that I think and believe that. My my title was ripped for me because of my my beliefs.
That is Brittany Bolton House and the editor-in-chief of Carolina Journal Donna King sitting down for an exclusive one-on-one interview on Friday, part two of that coming up here in just a couple of minutes. Hey, I've got the campaign brief ready, built from last quarter's data and the competitive landscape. Approved. Oh, agents, where would we be without you?
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Welcome back to the Carolina Journal News Hour, Charlotte's FM News Talk, 107.9 FM. WBT, I'm Nick Craig. Good Monday morning to you. Over the, or late last week, I should say, the editor-in-chief of Carolina Journal Donna King had an exclusive sit-down with Brittany Bolton House. She is a resident of Dupland County and was recently crowned Miss North Carolina USA.
However, throughout the middle parts of last week, she was stripped of her title as the Miss USA organization said that Bolton House did not uphold their organization standards, but she believes that her portions of her Mormon faith and outspoken conservative views may have also played a role in that decision. While many of the details are still unknown and neither the Miss USA national organization or the production company that organizes many of the Miss USA pageants in Several southeastern states, including North Carolina, has responded to Carolina Journal's request for comment or any sort of additional information ahead of the 75th annual Miss USA pageant, which is scheduled for August the 27th in Miami. The many online news publications are claiming 2017 screenshots, exchanges showing Bolton House using a slang term for a racial slur was the reason for her to be stripped of her crown. The reports also show critics commenting on Bolton House's political views, including images from 2024 showing Bolton House supporting President Donald Trump. Bolton House's own YouTube channel explores her experience of living the Mormon faith.
As of late last week, Bolton House did remain the top people's choice contestant for Miss USA and tells Carolina Journal that the training and commitment required of Padgett contestants were something that Trump. Transformed her life. Here is the second part of that interview between our editor-in-chief in Donna King and Brittany Bolton House. Let's go back to some of the posts that have been circulating that I think they. are pinning this on.
And how old were you in those posts first? You're very young now. I imagine you were very, very young then. Yes.
So there like I said, there's a lot of speculation again, but I will say every teenager has made a mistake. Every person here has made a mistake, but I'm not really here to talk about that. I'm here to talk about the woman I am today. Things may have happened decades ago, but I'm here to talk about the hardworking woman, the woman that was standing up there as Miss North Carolina USA, that I won fair and square, four out of five awards, Miss Congeniality, best gown. People's choice and fitness.
But miscondesiality was given to me because of my character and who I am. And I'm al I'm also the first married woman. When I had that title. And that's something that I'm proud about. And that's what I'm here to speak about.
I'm not, I won't be judged for my past. and I won't be judged at all because I am the woman I am today.
So let's talk about that in the pageant.
So in what the pageant experience has been like for you. It is transformative. Absolutely. Tell me more about that.
So I will say whenever I, I want to also make it very clear, I've never done pageants in my life.
Okay, so you're a newcomer to this. This is not something you had just, you had been, a lot of people start very, very young and then this is the culmination of it. But that's not the case for you. Yes, ma'am.
So I, December of 2025 of last year, I decided that I wanted to do a pageant. I wanted to do something for myself. As a woman, as a minority woman, as a businesswoman, I said, you know what, I dedicated my life to my career and everything. And I decided to do a pageant. And when I did the pageant, I prepared within six months and received the title of Miss North Carolina.
And you know, many people that do understand the pageant industry, it's very difficult to learn on heels, learn how to talk, learn how to walk, have poise and correct and all that good stuff.
So I completely transformed my life. and pageantry was one of the biggest blessings. of my life and I can say that and that's what you do transform me in a way where It gave me an opportunity and a platform. to one, share my beliefs and continue to be who I am. And I just feel like it just went from a dream to a nightmare.
Really fast, but also I want to say again on record: I'm glad it was me. That's why. Because I know who I am, and I know what I stand for as a woman, as a conservative woman, as a God-fearing woman. And I'm glad it happened to me and not some other woman or little girl. That could be going through something mentally so hard, but I'm able to handle it and I'm at peace with it.
And I also want to say I forgive the ones who are doing this to me as well. I forgive them because that's what I was raised to do. My parents raised me to be that way. And I show a lot of grace and a lot of love to those people because. I know they make mistakes too.
I understand they might not have the wisdom and knowledge that I do. But I forgive them and I want you to know that.
So what's the response been to this? I honestly want to thank God, first and foremost. I thank God I'm, like I said, I'm a God-fearing woman, but I also want to thank the community that has still supported me and knows who I am and knows my character and seen my growth, not only online, but seeing the person I become. And I want to thank people both statewise, nationally, internationally. I see you guys, I hear you guys, I'm here and And I'm here for you guys as well because there's a lot of people that are out there that probably have the same Beliefs as I do, and I'm here for you guys.
Do you feel like you've been given a meaningful opportunity to defend yourself, or will that come later? I I don't know. I don't know because, like I said, everything is so unclear for me. And like I said, I can't really say much because of this confidentiality clause. Again, I wish I could, but I believe I believe that.
judge and interpreted with his narrative that is just not true. And that's why I'm here to clear my story and fight for my reputation. from the fruits of my work because They have a perspective of me. and I understand to certain extents, but at the same time I don't. because some of those things is Not who I am today.
Well, let's talk about like beyond the broad picture. I know you can't get into the details, but do you see this as a Free speech issue or a viewpoint discrimination kind of issue? I I don't know. Okay. I like I said I just am so I'm so in the dark with everything.
I really am. It's very hard to say this right now, but I am very much in the dark. I feel like. I feel like your Fer I will say this, your First Amendment right is your right. Sure.
You have the right to say anything the way that you feel believe in this country. I won't say that they take that away from me or I can't say either or because again I don't know. But I will say that It is your God-given right to speak the way that you feel, no matter what. And if there's certain perspective and belief systems that may offend one another, you know, but I think it's just easy to have a common ground and respect one another with everyone's perspective.
So, why now and why here?
Well, I wanted to give uh my side or Give North Carolina a chance first. This is where I'm from. I love North Carolina. I was raised here a majority of my life. My parents migrated here.
You're from here, so I would love to give the opportunity for the Carolinians to, you know, hear my side because this is where I'm from. Are you hoping that they will change their mind? No, I am not here to fight back for my crown. I'm not here to degrade them, diminish the Ms. USA organization or the production team of my state direct prior state directors.
You can say, I'm here to give my side of the story and to. Che uh fight for my reputation and this narrative that is being painted of me. And speculated of me. Sure, could other conservative women, women of faith, be seeing what's happening to you, self-censor, be concerned to speak out or exercise those rights? No, I hope they see me as an example.
Okay. So always stand for what you believe, no matter what, no matter where, no matter what you do. I hope the conservative women, God-fearing women, even if you're not conservative, I speak to the women that even are not conservative, that they have the right to speak the way that you feel, no matter what platform, no matter what belief system that you may have. We live in a country that we have that ability. And that's beautiful.
And I utilize it every single day, and you have the right to. That is Brittany Bolton House, who was crowned and then had her crown stripped away from the Miss USA North Carolina pageant system, sitting down exclusively with the editor-in-chief of Carolina Journal in Donna King. We have got more coverage of that over on our website this morning, CarolinaJournal.com. Look for the headline: exclusive video: Britton Bolton House, Miss North Carolina, sits down with CJ. We'll continue to track that story if we do get a reply from either the Miss USA national organization or the organizer of several of the Miss USA pageants across southeastern states, including North Carolina.
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Granger for the ones who get it done. Good morning again. It's 5:52. Welcome back to the Carolina Journal News Hour, Charlotte's FM News Talk 107.9 FM, WBT recapping our big story this morning of what is set to be a very busy day across western North Carolina as the 11th Congressional District GOP Executive Committee is set to meet this evening at 6:30 in Buncombe County to choose the GOP's replacement candidate for United States House. It was one week ago that a House Ethics Committee report indicated that Congressman Chuck Edwards have likely violated rules of the House related to sexual harassment and creating a hostile workplace.
It would be just 36 short hours later that Edwards would take to social media to announce that while he would not be resigning his current seat, he would not be running in the November general election after winning a primary in March. Under North Carolina law, when a candidate resigns this close or withdraws this close rather to an election period, it is the GOP, or in this case, it is the political party's choice to replace. In this case, the Republican Party, more accurately, the 11th Congressional District Executive Committee that will choose the replacement. A couple of the frontrunner candidates, including a state senator Tim Moffitt, who going into the weekend seemed to be the individual that was gaining a lot of support and enthusiasm, took to social media this weekend to announce that while he appreciated all of the support, And was deeply grateful for the outpouring of support and encouragement. He did not have the time due to his current commitments, including his businesses that he operates, to take this job in Washington, D.C.
So he had withdrawn himself from the race there. And late last night, we heard some information from Representative Jennifer Balcombe, the Republican out of North Carolina's 117th General Assembly seat. She is the Republican out of Henderson County, taking to social media, saying it wasn't her plan to go to Washington, D.C. But what I've learned throughout my life is that when your community needs you, you don't sit on the sidelines, you step up. She would go on to say that she is in the race and will officially be seeking the Republican nomination for North Carolina's 11th congressional district, noting that this race is too important to sit out.
That meeting is set to take place at 6:30 tonight in Buncombe County. We'll be watching. that very closely. We'll have the latest for you over on our website, CarolinaJournal.com, and of course the latest for you tomorrow morning right here on the Carolina Journal News Hour. With us getting ever closer to Election Day, a late meeting last week from the North Carolina State Board of Elections.
They unanimously approved early voting plans for 80 of North Carolina's 100 counties. And this November is a midterm election. All 80 county plans that were approved were unanimous. The remaining 20 counties that were not unanimous will appear at the North Carolina State Board of Elections meeting coming up on August the 20th. That meeting will be set up for those 20 counties to present their plans to the board, who will have the final say.
The county boards have to meet general requirements, including having uniform locations, dates, and times. Also, if a county board is going to use a site in lieu of their county board of elections, Elections office. That site needs to be within what the state describes as a reasonable distance, either four miles or a 10-minute drive of the county board of election office. And the state board would need to approve the site and plan, providing adequate coverage of the county's electorate. A third requirement is that if a county board is using a privately owned voting site, one not supported by taxpayer dollars because there isn't another equally suitable site available, the county board should and would have to show.
That the site doesn't disproportionately favor any party, racial, or ethnic group or candidate. It has to be described and deemed as a neutral site. In addition, the state board takes into consideration whether a plan as a whole is going to disproportionately favor any particular group. They must meet federal things as it relates to the Americans with Disability Act. That's ADA compliance, and making sure that the polling places are handicap accessible or accommodate things like curbside voting.
So, 80 of the 100 plans have been approved for this upcoming November election. 20 more likely will be approved at this August 20th meeting. We'll be keeping an eye on everything as it relates to the midterm elections here across the state of North Carolina. Continuing coverage of that over on our website, CarolinaJournal.com. That's going to do it for a Monday edition.
WBT News is next, followed by Good Morning BT. We're back with you tomorrow morning, 5 to 6, right here on Charlotte's FM News Talk, 107.9 FM, WBT.
Okay.
