Fact check: NC attack ad targets candidate over Duke Energy funding, data centers
A Democratic PAC's ad targets Republican state Rep. Jennifer Balkcom over her alleged support for Duke Energy and votes favorable to data centers. The article fact-checks claims that Balkcom took campaign contributions from Duke Energy and voted to preserve data center tax exemptions, while also supporting a bill allowing Duke Energy to charge ratepayers for unbuilt power plants. The fact-check confirms these aspects of her voting record and contributions.
A Democratic super political action committee, Save Democracy PAC, has launched an attack ad against Republican state Rep. Jennifer Balkcom, who is campaigning for a congressional seat in Western North Carolina. The ad accuses Balkcom of prioritizing the interests of large energy and utility companies, specifically Duke Energy, and voting in ways that reduce costs for data centers, while showing footage of individuals struggling with energy bills.
The article fact-checks the ad's claims. Campaign finance documents show Balkcom received over $5,000 in contributions from the Duke Energy Corp. PAC since 2022. Regarding the energy legislation, Balkcom voted in 2025 for Senate Bill 266, which would permit Duke Energy to charge ratepayers for power plants not yet operational and would free the utility from a 2030 state carbon goal. Despite Governor Josh Stein's veto, the General Assembly overrode it, with Balkcom again voting in favor of the bill.
Concerning data centers, the ad claims Balkcom cut costs for them. North Carolina provides sales-and-use tax exemptions for data center operators meeting specific investment, healthcare, and wage criteria. While Balkcom voted to preserve these existing exemptions in the state budget, the same budget, signed by Gov. Stein, repealed a sales tax exemption for electricity purchased by eligible data centers. This repeal is estimated to save the state more than $21 million.
Balkcom's campaign manager, Courtney Taylor, dismissed the ad as