GOP leaders urge North Carolina Rep. Chuck Edwards to drop reelection bid after ethics report
House Republican leaders are privately urging Rep. Chuck Edwards to withdraw from his campaign following an ethics panel report that found substantial evidence of unwanted advances toward staffers, while the congressman disputes the findings.
Republican leaders in the House are reportedly pressing Rep. Chuck Edwards of North Carolina to abandon his bid for a second term after an ethics panel released a report on Monday that said there was "substantial evidence" the lawmaker made unwanted advances toward two female staff members. The panel, which investigated the matter for several months, recommended that the full House consider a censure, a rare step that could further damage Edwards' chances in a competitive district that President Trump carried by 9.5 points in 2024.
The earliest a vote on the recommendation could occur is September, after members return from the August recess. Party officials fear the censure could sway the November election, which is already considered vulnerable for the GOP as the Democratic challenger, farmer Jamie Ager, has out-raised Edwards by a large margin.
Edwards' campaign denied the allegations, with a spokesperson saying the committee's findings "completely exonerate Representative Edwards under the House rules governing sexual misconduct or harassment" and that he did not violate federal sexual-harassment law. Campaign strategist Paul Shumaker added that Edwards "looks forward to having his name cleared and will work to ensure that the full light of day is brought on this process."
Party leaders also face procedural challenges in replacing Edwards on the ballot at this late stage. The congressman had easily defeated a primary challenger in March, but internal anxiety about his electability has grown since the ethics report was issued.