Politics

EDWARDS DROPS OUT

By Bill Moss, Published: August 5, 2026

U.S. Rep. Chuck Edwards is ending his re-election campaign.

“After much prayer and reflection, I’ve decided to withdraw from my re-election campaign. I will complete my current term,” the second-term congressman from Flat Rock announced early Wednesday in a post on X. “Serving Western North Carolina has been the honor of my life. Thank you for your trust, prayers, and support.”

Edwards, 65, faced a recommendation of censure from the House Ethics Committee in a process that, if endorsed by a vote of the entire House, would have required him to stand in the well of the chamber for a public condemnation while the resolution was read. His campaign on Tuesday had declared that the report actually "exonerated" him from any charge that he had violated House rules and vowed that he looked forward to clearing his name.

But the announcement before dawn on Wednesday brought to a stunning end the political career of the businessman who was appointed to the state Senate in August 2016 and defeated the scandal-ridden Republican Madison Cawthorn in 2022 to win his congressional seat.

It was unclear early Wednesday what the next steps would be for replacing Edwards's name on the Nov. 3 ballot. Under North Carolina law, the Republican Party has until Sept. 4 to find a replacement, assuming Edwards formally withdraws by submitting a statement to the state Board of Elections before then.