Jamie Ager is a fourth-generation Western North Carolina farmer, entrepreneur, and Hickory Nut Gap founder with degrees in environmental studies and history.
Candidate Q&A
NC Health News reached out to Jamie Ager’s campaign multiple times looking for answers to our list of questions and received no response. To give readers information, we combed the internet and social media for statements by Jamie Ager and material from Ager’s official website that could address the themes in our questions. Unfortunately, we were not able to find material to answer every question.
What do you see as the biggest financial and administrative challenge to implementing the work requirements for Medicaid that were included in the One Big Beautiful Bill?
According to his campaign website, Ager opposes cuts to Medicaid, stating that “the recent cuts to Medicare and Medicaid by Congress means fewer people, kids especially, will get the care they need.” He also pledges to support “robust Medicaid, Medicare, and Social Security.”
What would be your plan for ensuring the future security/strength of Social Security and Medicare?
According to his campaign website, Ager pledges to “support robust Medicaid, Medicare, and Social Security so the folks most at risk in our communities have the support they need.” He also supports expanding Medicare coverage to include home- and community-based care, dental care and vision care.
What would you support in Congress as a plan to help control health care/ pharmaceutical costs?
According to his campaign website, Ager says he will “defend Medicare’s power to negotiate drug prices and keep capping insulin and other essentials.” He also supports a public health insurance option, stating, “I’ll push for a public option so everyone has access to quality affordable health care.” His platform identifies rising insurance premiums, high prescription drug costs and rural hospital closures as barriers to accessing care.
What steps would you take to improve access to health care in rural areas? How do we make the Rural Health Transformation Program successful in North Carolina?
According to his campaign website, Ager identifies rural hospital closures and the cost of care as major concerns. He proposes a public health insurance option and expanded mental health services, including earlier intervention and improved inpatient and outpatient care. He also pledges to expand Department of Veterans Affairs clinics across the congressional district and support mobile units that provide health care and screenings to veterans who cannot travel.
The rollout of AI is moving fast, including in health care, and leaders in that space are calling for things to slow down. What federal moves should be taken to regulate it, if at all?
According to his campaign website, Ager has raised concerns about AI’s effects on public discourse, stating, “Social media algorithms and generative artificial intelligence are being designed to put us into silos and keep our attention on confrontation for as long as possible.” He says he will “work on solutions to bring us back together.”
Where do you stand on federal vaccine policy? What should be done to prevent future disease outbreaks?
NC Health News could not find anything in the public record to address this question.
We’ve had some high-profile food contamination outbreaks, yet the federal government is pulling back on regulation of food, air and water. What level of federal regulation do you support and why?
According to his campaign website, Ager supports affordable, healthy food and small farmers. He states, “Creating a farming system that creates healthy food that people can afford means we are making the world a better place.” He also describes agriculture as an area where policymakers can find bipartisan solutions that benefit farmers, the land and community health. On environmental protection, he says public lands are a resource “that we must steward wisely.”
PFAS contamination is a nationwide issue; how do you address it while balancing public safety and business interests?
According to his campaign website, Ager emphasizes protecting the region’s natural environment, forests, rivers, lakes and public lands. He describes these natural resources as an economic asset and a responsibility to future generations, saying they are resources “that we must steward wisely.”
The building and placement of data centers have become a big issue, particularly in many rural communities. What should be the federal government’s role, if any, in how these are developed?
According to his campaign website, Ager supports rural economic development and protecting the region’s natural resources.
Is there anything else you’d like our readers to know?
According to his campaign website, Ager’s priorities include Hurricane Helene recovery funding, affordable health care, lower living costs, and support for small businesses and local agriculture. He pledges to “cut red tape and get money to where it matters most: on the ground, in the hands of the people and our small businesses.” He also supports expanding rural broadband and cell coverage, strengthening food assistance programs such as SNAP and WIC, and protecting public lands.
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