North Carolina Republicans are seeking a new nominee to replace Rep. Chuck Edwards in the 11th Congressional District race against Democrat Jamie Ager.
Mr. Edwards won the Republican primary in March, but his reelection campaign for a third term was derailed after the House Ethics Committee recommended that he be censured after the panel found he violated the chamber’s Code of Official Conduct through a sustained pattern of “unprofessional and inappropriate” behavior toward two female staffers.
While the committee found no evidence of sexual activity or explicit propositions, it concluded that Mr. Edwards’ conduct would lead “a reasonable observer” to interpret it as romantic or sexual advances.
Mr. Edwards’ lawyers issued a 15-page rebuttal in which they called the report a “vindication” based on its conclusion that the congressman didn’t proposition anyone or engage in any sexual conduct.
The attorneys also called censure an “extraordinarily harsh and infrequent punishment” inappropriate for a case “not based on a direct violation of House rules addressing sexual misconduct.”
Mr. Edwards on Wednesday said he would end his reelection campaign but would finish the remainder of his term in Congress.
“After much prayer and reflection, I’ve decided to withdraw from my reelection campaign,” he said on social media.
North Carolina law allows the 11th Congressional District Republican Executive Committee to select a replacement for Mr. Edwards, with no new primary election.
The North Carolina Republican Party has already announced it will move ahead with filling the nomination vacancy left open by Mr. Edwards.
“The people of Western North Carolina deserve a strong conservative voice on the ballot this November, and our party is prepared to move through this process quickly and efficiently,” said NCGOP Chairman Jason Simmons.
Merry Guy, chairwoman of the 11th Congressional District Republican Committee, announced the panel will meet Monday to choose a replacement.
Republicans who have been floated to run in the district, according to Asheville’s WLOS, include:
• Tim Moffitt of the North Carolina Senate.
• Jennifer Balkcom of the state House of Representatives.
• Jake Johnson of the state House.
• Kevin Corbin of the state Senate.
• Ralph Hise of the state Senate.
Other potential candidates are Adam Smith, who ran in the district’s Republican primary in March but lost to Mr. Edwards, and Christian Reagan, who ran in the 2024 GOP primary but was also defeated by Mr. Edwards.
Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee spokeswoman Madison Andrus said no matter whom the Republicans choose, Mr. Ager has already “built a coalition of working families, farmers, small business owners and the people of Western North Carolina.”
Ms. Andrus added, “Whoever replaces Chuck Edwards will not have been chosen by the voters but in a backroom somewhere by the same Republican insiders who abandoned WNC after Hurricane Helene, who have driven up the cost of everything from diesel fuel to groceries, and who have caused a health care crisis throughout NC-11.
“Whatever hand-picked lackey is on the ballot this November will have to answer for this record,” she said.
