Republicans, Democrats agree Rep. Edwards made right call withdrawing from NC-11 race

Democrats and Republicans alike applauded U.S. Rep. Chuck Edwards’ withdrawal from his reelection campaign Wednesday after the U.S. House Ethics Committee recommended his censure, followed by pressure from his party. 

Edwards, who has represented North Carolina’s 11th Congressional District since 2023, dropped out of the race after the committee’s Monday report, which detailed his inappropriate conduct toward two young women who worked in his office. 

“After much prayer and reflection, I’ve decided to withdraw from my re-election campaign,” Edwards said in a statement early Wednesday morning. “I will complete my current term. Serving Western North Carolina has been the honor of my life.”

Both of the state’s Republican senators praised that move. 

Multiple outlets reported Tuesday that U.S. Sen. Ted Budd told Edwards the race was unwinnable.

NC Rep. Edwards drops reelection campaign following ethics probe, urging of Republican colleagues

Budd said Wednesday morning that Edwards “did the right thing” by withdrawing.

“He has been a fighter for the people of Western North Carolina as they work to recover from the impacts of Hurricane Helene, and I know he’ll continue to advocate for disaster funding for the remainder of his time in D.C.,” Budd said. 

“Chuck Edwards made the right decision to drop out of the race for himself and his family,” U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis said in a statement Wednesday.

Edwards was set to face Democrat Jamie Ager, a fourth-generation farmer from a political family, on the ballot in November. 

Ager said on Wednesday his “heart goes out to the young women” who took on roles on Capitol Hill to serve their community. 

“No matter who we face in November, I’m confident we can win this race and deliver what I’ve been talking about since day one: Hurricane Helene recovery, lower costs, and an end to the corruption in Washington,” he said in a statement. 

Political observers considered Ager a formidable opponent to take on Edwards. Ager’s grandfather previously represented the 11th district from 1983 to 1985 and 1987 to 1991, after a stint in the state legislature. His brother Eric Ager serves in the North Carolina House. 

Even before the March primary election, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee pledged resources and fundraising support to Ager in February, adding him to its “Red to Blue” program. Election forecaster Sabato’s Crystal Ball shifted its assessment of the district from “Leans Republican” to “Toss-up” at the end of July. 

Two North Carolina US House races are now toss-ups, top forecaster says

On Wednesday, the DCCC called for Edwards to resign from the remainder of his term. 

DCCC spokesperson Madison Andrus said if Edwards is unfit to run for reelection, he isn’t fit to serve in Congress either.

“The decision to serve out the remainder of his term is not for North Carolina’s working families, it is clearly designed to protect House Republicans’ ever dwindling majority,” Andrus said in a statement. “Chuck Edwards must resign immediately, otherwise House Republicans should preserve what is left of their integrity and expel him from Congress.”

Under the North Carolina Republican Party’s plan of organization, the 11th Congressional District Executive Committee is responsible for selecting a new candidate for the November ballot. 

NCGOP chair Jason Simmons said the group is prepared to move through the process “quickly and efficiently.”

“The District Executive Committee will fulfill its responsibility under our rules to nominate a candidate who will fight for lower taxes, secure our border, strengthen our economy, and stand up for the values of the people of the 11th District,” he said in a statement. 

Several sitting state House and Senate Republicans from western North Carolina are already being discussed as potential replacements.  

Edwards’ abrupt withdrawal leaves western NC Republicans scrambling

North Carolina House Speaker Destin Hall said he was confident the committee’s candidate would win the election. 

He said he doesn’t yet know which House members are interested in the seat. 

“It seems clear that [Edwards] made the right decision. That seat is obviously important, and we need to make sure the folks out there have the right representation,” Hall told reporters Wednesday. “I don’t want to lose anybody within our caucus, but at the same time, the members we have out there are all very talented folks.”

The district has long been considered safely red, with President Donald Trump winning by 9.5 points in 2024. But recent polls show flagging Republican support in the district. 

“NC-11 is a Republican seat and will remain that way this November,” National Republican Congressional Committee spokesperson Reilly Richardson said. 

Edwards isn’t the district’s first controversial congressman  — former U.S. Reps. Madison Cawthorne and Mark Meadows held the seat before Edwards.