RALEIGH, N.C. (WLOS) — After Rep. Chuck Edwards announced his withdrawal from his re-election campaign, the Republican Party of North Carolina (NCGOP) said it will work to select a new nominee for the state's 11th Congressional District race.
Edwards won the Republican primary in March and was set to face Democratic nominee Jamie Ager in November. But in the early morning of Wednesday, Aug. 5, Edwards ended his bid for re-election for a third term following a lengthy investigation and report by the U.S. House Committee on Ethics.
The committee ultimately decided that Edwards be censured after concluding there is "substantial reason to believe" he violated House rules related to sexual harassment and maintaining a hostile workplace. These committee findings followed months of reports regarding claims of improper behavior by the Republican congressman, largely related to the treatment of young female staffers.
Now, the NCGOP said it will move forward with filling the nomination vacancy left behind by Edwards.
"The 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," said NCGOP Chairman Jason Simmons.
Merry Guy, chair of the 11th Congressional District Republican Committee, announced that the committee will meet Monday, Aug. 10, to select a replacement.
Political experts and Republican Party insiders say the following people are potential candidates for the new nominee:
Tim Moffitt, a Republican member of the North Carolina Senate.
Jennifer Balkcom, a Republican member of the North Carolina House of Representatives.
Jake Johnson, a Republican member of the North Carolina House of Representatives.
Kevin Corbin, a Republican member of the North Carolina Senate.
Ralph Hise, A Republican member of the North Carolina Senate.
Other possible contenders are Adam Smith, who ran in the NC-11 Republican primary in March but lost to Edwards, and Christian Reagan, who ran in the NC-11 Republican primary in 2024 but lost to Edwards.
STORY COURTESY OF WLOS-TV13
