Rep. Chuck Edwards, a North Carolina Republican, said early Wednesday that he will not seek a third term in the U.S. House, announcing his exit just two days after the House Ethics Committee urged colleagues to censure him over what it described as “unprofessional and inappropriate conduct” involving two female staff members.
“After much prayer and reflection, I’ve decided to withdraw from my re-election campaign,” Edwards wrote in a statement posted to X at 3:30 a.m. “I will complete my current term. 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 65-year-old congressman, who is married and has children and grandchildren, exceeded accepted workplace boundaries by giving the two women “lavish gifts,” making comments about their appearance and inviting them to “intimate dinners and vacations,” according to the 20-page report released Monday. Both women were in their early 20s at the time, the committee said.
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In one incident detailed by investigators, Edwards arranged for a professional singer to appear at a birthday celebration for one of the women and perform Ed Sheeran’s “Hills of Aberfeldy.” The singer was instructed to say only that the performance was a gift “from a special someone,” according to the report.
“The Committee received evidence that [the staffer] told a friend this led her to believe that the Congressman did not view her as ‘just a daughter figure’ and that she was ‘scared lowkey,’” the report said.
Edwards has served North Carolina’s Republican-leaning 11th Congressional District since 2023, after defeating conservative firebrand Rep. Madison Cawthorn in a GOP primary the year before.
