Republican Rep. Chuck Edwards of North Carolina announced Wednesday that he is ending his campaign for another term in Congress, just days after a bipartisan House Ethics Committee released a report recommending that he be formally censured by the House of Representatives.
The decision came a little more than 48 hours after the committee published its findings, concluding there was substantial reason to believe Edwards violated House rules governing workplace conduct through what it described as persistent inappropriate behavior toward two young female staff members.
According to the committee’s report, Edwards “engaged in persistent unprofessional and inappropriate conduct towards two young female staffers” and “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 report details numerous gifts that Edwards allegedly provided to the staffers over an extended period. Investigators said those gifts included jewelry worth more than $1,000, designer purses, firearms, shoes, flowers, a laptop computer, cellphones, a KitchenAid mixer, a robotic vacuum, vacations, tickets to performances, and private dinners.
The committee also cited allegations that Edwards frequently commented on the women’s appearance and clothing, invited them on vacations and intimate dinners, sent notes expressing strong personal affection, and sought opportunities to spend time alone with them.
Additional allegations outlined in the report include late-night text messages, discussions about visits to strip clubs, skipping House votes on one occasion to help decorate a staffer’s Christmas tree, and canceling a scheduled tele-town hall meeting in order to have dinner with a staff member.
Despite those findings, the committee also made several important distinctions. Investigators stated they found no evidence that Edwards engaged in sexual activity with either employee or explicitly propositioned them. The report further concluded that the allegations did not involve quid pro quo sexual harassment and did not violate the letter of federal sexual harassment law.
However, the committee determined that Edwards’ overall conduct still crossed ethical boundaries expected of members of Congress.
While Edwards denied that his actions were intended to be romantic or sexual, the report stated that “his pattern of behavior would lead a reasonable observer to interpret it as such.” Investigators also found that Edwards was aware his conduct had generated rumors and speculation within his congressional office. The committee ultimately described his behavior as “beyond inappropriate.”
Throughout the investigation, Edwards cooperated with committee investigators while disputing many of the allegations. His attorneys submitted a 15-page rebuttal arguing that the evidence did not justify a recommendation for censure. A spokesman for the congressman also defended him, saying the committee’s findings “completely exonerate Representative Edwards under the House rules governing sexual misconduct or harassment.”
The spokesman further emphasized that investigators concluded Edwards “did not violate federal sexual harassment law” and said the congressman “looks forward to having his name cleared.”
Nevertheless, Edwards announced Wednesday that he would end his reelection campaign.
“After much prayer, thoughtful reflection, and many conversations with my family, I have made the difficult decision to withdraw from my re-election campaign. I will complete my current term,” Edwards said in a statement.
NEW: The House Ethics Committee is recommending that Rep. Chuck Edwards (R-NC) be censured after their investigation found he created a hostile work environment for two female staffers due to sexual harassment and inappropriate behavior, including missing votes one evening to… pic.twitter.com/Qyfj7nGlUN
— Bill Melugin (@BillMelugin_) August 3, 2026
He thanked his family, supporters, and congressional staff but did not directly address the Ethics Committee report.
Edwards was first elected to represent North Carolina’s 11th Congressional District in 2022 and is currently serving his second term. He had already secured the Republican nomination earlier this year, meaning the North Carolina 11th District Republican Executive Committee is now expected to select a replacement candidate for the November general election.
The western North Carolina district carries a Cook Partisan Voting Index rating of R+5, making it a competitive but Republican-leaning seat heading into the fall campaign.
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