Rep. Chuck Edwards (R-N.C.) announced early Wednesday that he is ending his reelection campaign, a dramatic fall for a freshman lawmaker just days after the House Ethics Committee recommended he be formally censured for conduct that investigators said violated the “spirit” of chamber rules against sexual harassment.
“After much prayer and reflection, I’ve decided to withdraw from my re-election campaign. I will complete my current term,” Edwards wrote on social media platform X in the early hours of Wednesday. “Serving Western North Carolina has been the honor of my life. Thank you for your trust, prayers, and support. God bless WNC and America.”
The decision comes after the Ethics panel on Monday released a report detailing what it called “highly unprofessional” behavior toward two female staffers, including extravagant outings, late-night texts, and other actions that “made the women feel uncomfortable, and/or gave the appearance of a sexual or romantic advance.” The report did not accuse Edwards of explicit sexual harassment under House rules, but it recommended the full House adopt a censure resolution.
Edwards’s campaign spokesman, Paul Shumaker, pushed back on the findings, arguing that “the Committee findings completely exonerate Representative Edwards under the House rules governing sexual misconduct or harassment; they contradict the committee’s conclusion.” Edwards’s counsel noted the panel found he “neither engaged in sexual activity with nor explicitly propositioned any individual staff member.”
Still, the committee’s report described a pattern of behavior that “was beyond inappropriate,” citing instances such as writing poems for a staffer, crying during a slideshow at her going-away party, and paying for massages and spa treatments. Edwards also reportedly paid for a singer to perform a surprise song at a staffer’s birthday party.
Republicans had grown increasingly anxious about Edwards’s ability to hold his competitive Western North Carolina district, which the Cook Political Report rates as Lean Republican. With his withdrawal, the state GOP’s district executive committee will now meet to select a replacement nominee to appear on the November ballot.
Edwards, a former state senator, first won his seat in 2022 by defeating then-Rep. Madison Cawthorn in a primary. Cawthorn had faced his own controversies, including citations for speeding and bringing a loaded gun to an airport. Edwards’s exit adds to a turbulent cycle for House Republicans, who are already dealing with similar allegations against another GOP lawmaker and the fallout from related ethics battles.
The Ethics Committee’s recommended censure does not strip Edwards of committee assignments or impose other penalties, but it would be a formal rebuke if adopted by the full House. The chamber has not yet scheduled a vote on the resolution.
Edwards’s departure is a blow to GOP hopes of maintaining their narrow majority, as Democrats are expected to target the open seat aggressively. The district, which includes Asheville and surrounding mountain communities, has trended Democratic in recent years, making the race even more competitive without an incumbent.
In his statement, Edwards did not address the ethics findings directly, instead thanking constituents for their “trust, prayers, and support.” He vowed to serve out the remainder of his term, which runs through January.
