Chuck Edwards Withdraws from NC-11 Race Amid Ethics Scandal

The U.S. The report was released on April 7, 2026. On the night of the report, Republican Party chair Jim Fulton of Buncombe County received a call from an Edwards aide indicating the campaign would continue “full steam ahead.” At 3:32 a.m. on Wednesday, Edwards announced he was dropping out of the race for North Carolina’s 11th Congressional District.

New York Times

With the race now open roughly 12 weeks before Election Day, the Republican executive committee for the 11th district—comprising county chairs and other officials—has scheduled a meeting for next Monday to select a new nominee. Party insiders say several state legislators are being considered, but no clear front-runner has emerged. The accelerated timeline gives the GOP roughly 90 days to field a candidate before the November ballot.

New York Times

Democratic nominee Jamie Ager, a farmer-turned-politician, has framed the development as an opportunity to focus on “real issues.” He told News 13, “We’ve got real issues to focus on, and this kind of behavior is just distracting and unfortunate.” Ager expressed sympathy for the aides involved, noting, “The people here, wanting to contribute to the community, wanting to participate in public service, to have this happen to them in that process is sad for them and definitely our heart goes out for them.” Ager emphasized his campaign’s continued focus on “Helene recovery” and the high cost of living across western North Carolina. At a rally on May 7, 2026 in Asheville Yards, he reiterated his commitment to “earn this community’s trust” over the coming months.

WLOS (ABC13News)

The 11th district, long a Republican stronghold, has become increasingly competitive as demographic shifts favor Democrats. Edwards’s exit removes an incumbent advantage for the GOP and forces a rapid nomination process that could disadvantage the party’s ability to mobilize voters. Ager’s campaign, already highlighting economic concerns, now faces a shortened window to counter any Republican replacement.

WLOS (ABC13News)

• “We’ve got real issues to focus on, and this kind of behavior is just distracting and unfortunate,” — Jamie Ager

WLOS (ABC13News)

• “The people here, wanting to contribute to the community, wanting to participate in public service, to have this happen to them in that process is sad for them and definitely our heart goes out for them,” — Jamie Ager

WLOS (ABC13News)

• “We’ve run the same campaign this whole time. We’re focused on Helene recovery; we’re focused on the cost of living is too high for so many people all over western North Carolina,” — Jamie Ager

WLOS (ABC13News)