North Carolina Republican Withdraws Re-Election Bid Following House Ethics Censure Recommendation

North Carolina Republican Rep. Chuck Edwards announced Wednesday morning that he would not seek re-election, citing personal reflection as he ends his campaign effective immediately. Edwards stated he would complete his current term representing Western North Carolina, which he called “the honor of my life.” The decision came just 48 hours after a House Ethics Committee report recommended his censure.

The ethics panel concluded Edwards engaged in a pattern of inappropriate and unprofessional behavior directed at two young female staffers in his office. The conduct included frequent expensive gifts, remarks about their physical appearance, invitations to intimate dinners and vacations, and notes expressing deep affection—behavior the committee said would reasonably be interpreted as romantic or sexual advances, though Edwards denied such intent.

Investigators found no evidence Edwards engaged in sexual activity with staff members or made explicit sexual propositions. However, the report noted both women felt uncomfortable with his attention and were placed in an impossible position given his authority as their employer and a member of Congress. Edwards was either unaware of or indifferent to the impact his conduct had on their careers and wellbeing, the committee stated.

Edwards has served in the House since early 2023, having won the GOP primary decisively in North Carolina’s 11th District earlier this year. The ethics committee formally recommended censure for his conduct in the formal report released Monday.