Five Democratic NC-11 Candidates Debate Jan. 28 at A-B Tech; Livestreamed

Five Democrats seeking the nomination in North Carolina’s 11th Congressional District will debate at Ferguson Auditorium at A-B Tech at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 28. The forum, posted by Indivisible Asheville, names Jamie Ager, Zelda Briarwood, Richard Hudspeth, Paul Maddox, and Lee Whipple as the filed candidates who will appear. The event will be moderated by Charles Perez of WLOS and streamed live to YouTube and Facebook, increasing access for voters across Buncombe County.

The debate arrives in the final days before the district’s Democratic primary period, offering a concentrated opportunity for voters to compare candidates on record, temperament, and campaign priorities. For local residents, the forum matters because it creates a public setting where candidates must address questions on federal policy and how it affects everyday local services, constituent outreach, and resource allocation. The availability of a livestream also means residents who cannot attend in person can observe the exchange, track candidate responses, and assess how each contender would represent the district in Washington.

Indivisible Asheville listed the Buncombe County Democratic Party as the organizer contact on the event page, and Ferguson Auditorium at A-B Tech is the designated venue. Charles Perez’s role as moderator signals a locally recognized media presence guiding the discussion. The set-up reflects a blend of grassroots organizing and institutional participation by the county party, underscoring the role local civic groups and party structures play in shaping primary-level civic engagement.

Debates like this can shift the dynamics of a primary race by clarifying contrasts among candidates, shaping volunteer enthusiasm, and influencing donor and endorsement decisions. For campaigns, performance under a live moderator and in front of a mixed in-person and online audience is an early test of message discipline and outreach capacity. For voters, the forum provides raw material for evaluating electability and issue alignment before casting a ballot.

Buncombe County residents who want to follow the debate can watch the livestream on YouTube or Facebook beginning at 7:00 p.m. Wednesday. The event page identifies the Buncombe County Democratic Party as the contact for organizers and lists Ferguson Auditorium, A-B Tech, as the site. The forum will be a bellwether for how the five-candidate field presents itself publicly and may help narrow voter choices as the primary approaches.