Here are the Republicans who could replace Rep. Chuck Edwards
Rep. Chuck Edwards (R-NC) announced early Wednesday morning that he is dropping out of his reelection bid,prompting North Carolina’s 11th Congressional District GOP too convene next week to select a replacement candidate. Teh decision follows a House Ethics Committee report that detailed inappropriate actions Edwards allegedly took toward two female staffers. Several potential candidates, including state Senators Kevin Corbin and Tim Moffitt, are interested in running, tho Corbin has expressed family considerations, and Moffitt has not responded to inquiries. Political analysts suggest that a candidate with considerable wealth might also enter the race as a surprise contender.
The seat, considered “lean Republican” by the Cook Political Report, is challenging to hold given the district’s voting history-President Trump carried it by 10 points in 2024, and Democratic candidate Josh Stein won it by six points in the gubernatorial race.The Democratic challenger, Jamie Ager, is part of the DCCC’s “red to blue” programme.
According to North Carolina law, the district’s GOP executive committee, composed of officials from 16 counties, will select a new nominee.State GOP Chairman Jason Simmons emphasized the party’s commitment to quickly choosing a candidate who advocates for conservative values and aims to expand Republican majorities.
Rep. Chuck Edwards (R-NC) dropped his reelection bid early Wednesday morning, leaving party leaders in North Carolina’s 11th Congressional District scrambling to find someone to replace him on the ballot.
The district’s Republican executive committee will convene next week to select a new candidate to replace Edwards after a House Ethics Committee report outlined a slew of inappropriate actions the lawmaker allegedly took toward two female staffers.
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A handful of names are already expressing interest in the seat.
“I’ve heard that state Sen. Kevin Corbin is throwing his name around, and then I heard the same for state Sen. Tim Moffitt, both of these guys were state House members, and they’re state senators now,” Wayne King, former chief of staff to Mark Meadows, told the Washington Examiner.
Corbin confirmed to the Washington Examiner that he is also interested in the race and has been receiving calls on the matter. Corbin said the main factor in his decision will be his family, but he has yet to talk to them since Edwards dropped out.
Corbin is serving his third term in the North Carolina Senate, and said he is not sure if he is ready to give up his seat to run for Congress. His legislative district spans much of the western part of the congressional district.
Moffitt did not respond when contacted by the Washington Examiner. He is serving his second term in the North Carolina Senate, where much of his district falls in the 11th Congressional District. Before serving in the state Senate, Moffitt also served two separate stints in the state House.
But King noted there could always be a wild card jumping into the race.
“There’s always the chance of an independently wealthy candidate jumping in and trying to get the votes of the executive committee, too,” King added.
While party leaders will select a new candidate, it will still be an uphill battle to keep the seat labeled “lean Republican” by the nonpartisan Cook Political Report. Any new candidate would have a massive disadvantage for fundraising, with less than 100 days until the November election for a seat President Donald Trump won by 10 percentage points in 2024. Gov. Josh Stein (D-NC) won it by 6 points over former GOP Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, who was engulfed in scandal over comments made on a sex site.
Democrat Jamie Ager, a farmer endorsed by the Blue Dog PAC, is part of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee’s “red to blue” program.
WHAT IS THE PROCESS TO REPLACE CHUCK EDWARDS IF HE DROPS HIS REELECTION BID?
State law requires the GOP executive committee for North Carolina’s 11th Congressional District to convene and select a new nominee now that Edwards is out of the race. The committee is made up of Republican officials from the 16 counties that make up the district. State laws do not define who would make up the executive committee.
“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,” North Carolina GOP Chairman Jason Simmons said in a statement. “The District Executive Committee will fulfill its responsibility under our rules to nominate a candidate who will fight for lower taxes, secure our border, strengthen our economy, and stand up for the values of the people of the 11th District. I am confident Republicans will unite behind our nominee and continue our work to expand our majorities in Washington.”
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