Rep. Chuck Edwards abandons re-election bid

Aaron BakerDefault author avatar

Rep. Chuck Edwards will not run for re-election to his U.S. House seat in November. He made the announcement in a post on “X” early Wednesday morning.

In the post, he writes, “After much prayer and reflection, I’ve decided to withdraw from my re-election campaign. 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.”

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After much prayer and reflection, I’ve decided to withdraw from my re-election campaign. 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.

— Congressman Chuck Edwards (@RepChuckEdwards) August 5, 2026

Monday, the U.S. House Ethics Committee recommended a censure vote on Rep. Edwards. In a 25-page report, the committee found Edwards “violated the House Code of Official Conduct by failing to adhere to the spirit of rules prohibiting sexual harassment of and unwanted advances to House staffers.” It stated there was no evidence Edwards engaged in sexual activity with staffers or propositioned staffers.

Rep. Edwards has represented the 11th congressional district of North Carolina since 2023, which covers much of the western section of the state.

What happens to Rep. Edwards’ seat?

The North Carolina Republican Party announced the process to fill Rep. Edwards’ nomination for the House seat.

In a statement, the Party says the “Executive Committee of North Carolina’s 11th Congressional District will convene next week to select a Republican nominee for placement on the November ballot.”

NCGOP Chairman Jason Simmons says the committee will select a candidate who “will fight for lower taxes, secure our border, strengthen our economy, and stand up for the values of the people of Western North Carolina.”