Unfinished Business: Why Mike Hager is returning to fight for Western NC
The upcoming Republican primary on March 3 is shaping up to be a defining moment for Western North Carolina. In House District 113, voters are facing a choice between two experienced leaders with distinct visions for the region’s future.
Incumbent Representative Jake Johnson, currently serving his fourth term and holding a spot in House leadership, is running for re-election. Challenging him is Mike Hager, a familiar face to many in the district. Hager served as the House Majority Leader until 2016, when he made the difficult decision to resign to care for his ailing father.
Now, nearly a decade later, Hager is looking to return to Raleigh. His motivation is simple: he has "unfinished business" and a deep desire to protect the rural communities of Polk, Henderson, McDowell, and Rutherford counties.
This race is about more than just a seat in the General Assembly. It highlights fundamental differences in how to handle state budgets, how to protect our seniors from rising costs, and how to ensure our communities recover from devastation like Hurricane Helene.
A Contest of Experience and Priorities
It is relatively rare to see a primary battle between a current member of leadership and a former Majority Leader. Both candidates bring significant legislative experience to the table, but their priorities for the next term offer voters a clear contrast.
Rep. Johnson points to his recent record, emphasizing the alleged local funds he has secured for the district in state budgets even though the legislature failed to pass a budget.He also claims support from political figures not related to the house district.
However, Hager argues that the current legislature has lost its way on the fundamentals, particularly regarding the state budget and the protection of the district's most vulnerable residents.
The Budget Standoff: A Failure of Duty?
One of the central points of contention in this election is the current General Assembly's inability to pass a comprehensive state budget. While both the House and Senate passed their own versions, a compromise has remained elusive, bringing progress on key issues to a standstill.
For Hager, this gridlock is unacceptable. He views passing a budget as the primary job description of a legislator.
"We couldn't leave without a budget, and that was our main focus. I mean, that's why you go to Raleigh. That's why legislators are there," Hager stated regarding his previous tenure.
The consequences of this stalemate are real. Without a finalized budget, funding for essential services—including mental health services and school systems—remains in limbo. While Johnson supports the House’s proposal, which included teacher pay raises, he attributes the delay to disagreements with the Senate regarding economic forecasting for 2026.
For voters in District 113, the question becomes: Do we accept the gridlock, or do we send someone back to Raleigh with a track record of getting deals done?
Protecting Seniors: The Homestead Act Debate
Perhaps the most significant policy difference between the two candidates concerns property taxes and the protection of senior citizens. District 113 has a significant population of seniors, many of whom are living on fixed incomes while inflation and property values skyrocket.
Hager has made this issue a cornerstone of his campaign. He is calling for an enhancement of the state's Homestead Act to ensure that seniors are not taxed out of their own homes.
"Nobody who's 65 and over should have a chance to lose their house because they can't pay their property taxes," Hager affirmed.
His proposal is rooted in the belief that after a lifetime of contributing to the economy and their communities, seniors should not live in fear of losing their shelter due to tax bills they cannot afford. He acknowledges that the state would need to find ways to support local governments if this revenue stream were adjusted, but he views the protection of seniors as a moral imperative.
Rep. Johnson, conversely, opposes this specific exemption. He argues that eliminating property taxes for seniors would necessitate a massive tax hike—potentially up to 35%—on the working-class population to make up the shortfall. Johnson also suggested that such a cut would largely benefit retirees moving in from out-of-state rather than long-time locals.
"I just don't think that's the answer when we already have a problem with our workforce in western North Carolina," Johnson said.
This disagreement presents a stark choice for voters: A prioritization of tax relief for seniors, or a maintenance of the current tax structure to protect the working-age tax base.
United on Recovery, Divided on Urgency
While the candidates differ on fiscal policy, there is common ground regarding the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene. Recovery is an ongoing struggle for Western North Carolina, and both candidates agree that the federal response has been lacking.
Local governments have been slow to see reimbursements from FEMA, putting a strain on small towns that simply do not have the cash reserves to front the costs of major infrastructure repairs.
Hager emphasized the need for the state to step up when the federal government fails. "(The federal government) is too slow in reacting, especially when the small towns don't have the revenue to get these things done," Hager noted. "I think FEMA has kind of dragged their feet and the state and local people have had to plug the holes."
Johnson noted that he intends to secure funding in the state budget for specific recovery projects, such as an overhaul of the Rutherford County jail and repairs for damaged infrastructure. However, Johnson did not provide any specific information about how or when a state budget might be passed.
The Road to March 3rd
The outcome of this primary will likely determine the district's representative for the foreseeable future, given the district's political leaning. The winner will move on to face Democrat Mason Rhodes in the November general election.
Mike Hager’s return to the political arena offers voters a chance to elect a representative focused on the "unfinished business" of lowering costs for families, protecting seniors from losing their homes, and breaking the budgetary gridlock in Raleigh.
As the March 3rd primary approaches, residents of District 113 must decide who is best equipped to fight for their interests in a changing economic landscape.
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