Rep. Chuck Edwards (R-NC) announced he will drop his bid for reelection, after an ethics report released this week detailed concerning behavior toward female staffers.
“After much prayer and reflection, I’ve decided to withdraw from my re-election campaign,” Edwards said in a statement Wednesday morning. “I will complete my current term. Serving Western North Carolina has been the honor of my life. Thank you for your trust, prayers, and support. God bless WNC and America.”
He is also facing a censure vote in the House of Representatives after the August recess, after the House Ethics Committee found he failed “to adhere to the spirit of rules prohibiting sexual harassment of and unwanted advances to House staffers.”
In the report Edwards reportedly denied claims of inappropriate behavior, but the committee decided “his pattern of behavior” would be interpreted as harassment. The behavior detailed in the report included buying female staffers gifts, including a gun, jewelry, and a personalized puzzle that formed a message inviting the staffer to a comedy show with him.
One staffer told a friend she felt “lowkey scared” after the congressman arranged for a singer to perform Ed Sheeran’s “Hills of Aberfeldy,” for her birthday, with a message saying it was “from a special someone.”
The report also outlines many unwanted advances Edwards made toward staffers, including arranging a day trip to Annapolis. About the trip, he sent a staffer a message saying: “Over thinking, . . but I really want you to enjoy our time together nearly as much as I know [I] will.”
Though the race for North Carolina’s 11th district is rated “lean Republican” by Cook Political Report, Democrats are seeing a potential opportunity with a mixup in the race. Jamie Ager, a livestock farmer recruited by Blue Dog Democrats is part of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee’s “red to blue” program and has seen his fundraising numbers boosted as a result.
The state’s primaries were held on March 3, but North Carolina law says that a party can replace a nominee at any point before the general election. Now that Edwards has withdrawn, the GOP executive committee for North Carolina’s 11th Congressional District must select a new nominee. The committee is made up of 16 Republican officials from the counties in the district.
WHAT IS THE PROCESS TO REPLACE CHUCK EDWARDS?
In the case of positive polling for Ager, some pollsters are suggesting the district, which went to President Donald Trump by ten points in 2024, could flip. Positive momentum from former Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper’s campaign is also contributing to the positive environment for Ager.
“The district backed Trump by a shade under 10 points, so it’s also clearly red-leaning, but, again, the environment could sand down some of that generic Republican lean, and Edwards has some problems,” Kyle Kondik wrote for Sabato’s Crystal Ball forecasting.