Rep. Chuck Edwards drops re-election bid after censure recommendation over harassment claims - NBC News

Rep. Chuck Edwards, R-N.C., announced Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2026, that he is dropping his re-election bid, saying he reached the decision "after much prayer and reflection" while pledging to finish his current term.
The withdrawal came days after the House Ethics Committee recommended on Monday that the full House censure Edwards, 65, over allegations of sexual harassment involving two young female staffers.
A bipartisan committee panel found that Edwards "engaged in persistent unprofessional and inappropriate conduct" and violated the House Code of Official Conduct by failing to adhere to rules against sexual harassment and unwanted advances, following a monthslong investigation detailed in a 25-page report.
The report described a pattern including lavish and recurring gifts, comments about the women's appearance and dress, invitations to intimate dinners and vacations, and notes expressing affection, though it found no evidence of sexual activity, propositioning, or quid pro quo harassment.
Edwards, who cooperated with the investigation, has repeatedly denied wrongdoing and said his actions were not intended to be sexual or romantic; a censure is a formal expression of House disapproval.
Endorsed by President Donald Trump last year, Edwards had been set to face Democrat Jamie Ager, a farmer who had significantly outraised him; Democrats saw the seat as potentially flippable, and the Cook Political Report had rated the race "Lean Republican" before the report's release.