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

BREAKING NEWSUpdated 8 minutes agoPolitics NewsPolitics NewsRep. Chuck Edwards drops re-election bid after censure recommendation over harassment claims“After much prayer and reflection, I’ve decided to withdraw from my re-election campaign,” Edwards, R-N.C., said early Wednesday after mounting pressure over his conduct toward two female staffers.Listen to this article with a free profile00:0000:00Rep. Chuck Edwards in 2025.Bill Clark / CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images fileShareAdd NBC News to GoogleAug. 5, 2026, 5:36 AM EDT / Updated Aug. 5, 2026, 5:39 AM EDTBy Adela Suliman, Scott Wong, Brennan Leach and Katie TaylorRep. Chuck Edwards, R-N.C. has said he is dropping his bid for re-election, days after the House Ethics Committee recommended censure over sexual harassment allegations. “After much prayer and reflection, I’ve decided to withdraw from my re-election campaign. I will complete my current term,” Edwards announced early Wednesday in a post on X. “Serving Western North Carolina has been the honor of my life. Thank you for your trust, prayers, and support.”Edwards, 65, had faced mounting pressure over his conduct with two female staffers. He has repeatedly denied wrongdoing.On Monday, the ethics panel said it was recommending that the full House censure Edwards after it found that he “engaged in persistent unprofessional and inappropriate conduct towards two young female staffers.” A censure is a formal disapproval by the House.“The Committee found that Representative Edwards violated the House Code of Official Conduct by failing to adhere to the spirit of rules prohibiting sexual harassment of and unwanted advances to House staffers,” the Ethics Committee said in its 25-page report following a monthslong investigation into allegations against him.The bipartisan panel said Edwards denied that any of his actions were intended to be sexual or romantic in nature. He cooperated with the investigation, according to the report.The committee said it found no evid...