Rep. Chuck Edwards, R-NC, announced early Wednesday that he will not seek a third term in the House of Representatives, a decision that follows a recent House Ethics Committee report recommending his censure for "unprofessional and inappropriate conduct" toward two female staffers.
Edwards, 65, stated in a message posted on X that he would complete his current term representing North Carolina’s 11th District. "After much prayer and reflection, I’ve decided to withdraw from my re-election campaign," he wrote. "Serving Western North Carolina has been the honor of my life."
The House Ethics Committee report, released Monday, detailed allegations that Edwards "went beyond norms of professional behavior by giving both women lavish gifts, commenting on the two women’s appearance, and inviting them to intimate dinners and vacations." The two staffers were in their early 20s at the time of the alleged conduct.
The report described one instance where Edwards arranged for a singer to perform a song for one staffer, identifying it as a gift "from a special someone." According to the report, the staffer told a friend this led her to believe the Congressman did not view her as "just a daughter figure" and that she was "scared lowkey."
Edwards, a married father and grandfather, was first elected to the House in 2023, defeating Rep. Madison Cawthorn in the Republican primary. The 11th District is considered Republican-leaning.