WASHINGTON (AP) 鈥� Embattled North Carolina Republican congressman Chuck Edwards withdrew from his reelection campaign on Wednesday, two days after the House Ethics Committee for unprofessional and inappropriate conduct toward two young female aides in his office.
The 65-year-old Edwards, who is serving his second term, said that he made the decision to drop his reelection bid after 鈥渕uch prayer and reflection鈥� and that he would complete the current term.
The Ethics Committee recommended the censure, an act registering its deep disapproval of a lawmaker鈥檚 conduct that does not meet the threshold for expulsion, on Monday. The panel highlighted numerous examples of actions it considered improper, including Edwards providing the young women with lavish and recurrent gifts, making comments regarding their appearance and dress, inviting them to intimate dinners and vacations, and sending notes regarding his affection.
Edwards denied that any of was intended as a sexual or romantic advance, but the committee said his behavior would 鈥渓ead a reasonable observer to interpret it as such.鈥�
鈥淪erving Western North Carolina has been the honor of my life,鈥� Edwards said in a post on X. 鈥淭hank you for your trust, prayers, and support. God bless WNC and America.鈥�
GOP colleague says it’s good Edwards quit the race
North Carolina Republican Sen. Ted Budd said Edwards “did the right thing by withdrawing from the race.鈥�
In a statement, the senator said the congressman has been 鈥渁 fighter for the people of Western North Carolina as they work to recover from the impacts of Hurricane Helene, and I know he鈥檒l continue to advocate for disaster funding for the remainder of his time in D.C.鈥�
Budd鈥檚 spokesman, Christian McMullen, said the senator found the House Ethics Committee’s report on Edwards 鈥渄eeply concerning” and believed the congressman already faced a significant uphill battle trailing in the polls even before the report’s publication. He declined to say whether the senator asked his colleague to step aside, saying the senator does not discuss private conversations.
Edwards鈥� attorneys call censure 鈥榟arsh鈥�
The Ethic Committee described Edwards’ actions as 鈥渂eyond inappropriate鈥� but said it found no evidence that he explicitly propositioned any people under his employ or engaged in any sexual activity with them.
In a response to the Ethics Committee’s report, Edwards鈥� attorneys argued that the committee鈥檚 findings 鈥渆xonerate鈥� the congressman. His attorneys said the recommendation of censure was an 鈥渆xtraordinarily harsh and infrequent punishment鈥� based on vague standards, 鈥渘ot based on a direct violation of House rules addressing sexual misconduct.鈥�
State law requires Edwards to put his intent to withdraw in writing and submit it to the state Board of Elections before ballots are mailed to overseas voters and the military. The Republican executive committee in Edwards’ 11th Congressional District will meet next week to select a nominee for the midterm election.
鈥淭he 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,鈥� state GOP Chairman Jason Simmons said in a statement.
House GOP majority is at stake in the midterms
The political upheaval in North Carolina adds to the difficulty Republicans face as they work to keep their slim majority control of the House .
is already juggling other disruptions, including in Ohio, where Republican Rep. Max Miller faces in a district that typically has been favorable to the GOP.
Johnson, R-La., has remained upbeat about his party’s chances of keeping House control, but he can only afford to lose a few seats that will make the difference between which party holds the powerful speaker’s gavel.
encompasses much of the rural western part of the state but also progressive Asheville, and it has been one to watch as a bellwether in the race for the House, as Republicans and Democrats battle for .
Even before the decision by Edwards to step aside, election analysts had shifted their assessment of the race from one that was more favorable to Republicans to more competitive.
Democrats, who have nominated farmer Jamie Ager as their candidate, have poured attention on the district as one to flip to their column.
Republicans had wanted Edwards to step aside and believe the seat is still winnable for the GOP, hoping to mount a fresh campaign with a new candidate.
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