From Staff Reports

HENDERSONVILLE, N.C. —  U.S. Rep. Chuck Edwards, R-Flat Rock, who is running for re-election to a third term, is under a House Ethics Committee investigation regarding allegations of an improper relationship with a former staffer, which he denies, according to published reports on May 4.  

Edwards, who represents North Carolina’s 11th District, was first elected to the seat in 2022. 

Born in 1960 in Waynesville, Edwards began working at a McDonald’s at age 16. He later became a McDonald’s owner/operator of six locations in Hendersonville, Brevard and Canton.

Prior to his election as a U.S. congressman, he served three terms in the North Carolina Senate. 

In August 2016,  he was appointed to the North Carolina Senate to replace Tom Apodaca, and served there until his election to Congress in 2022.

In 2022, Edwards defeated Democratic nominee Bud Smith to succeed Madison Cawthorn. He serves on both the House Appropriations and Budget committees.

In early May, reports emerged that the House Ethics Committee is investigating allegations of a long-term affair between Edwards and his former deputy chief of staff.Specifically, reports alleged that Edwards sent personal letters and bought gifts for a young female staffer.

When questioned about the allegations by reporters, Edwards denied everything, calling it “horsesh--” and welcoming the investigation to enter facts into the record.

The allegations led to the University of Virginia’s Center for Politics downgrading the 11th District from “likely Republican” to “leans Republican.”

Since 1980, Edwards has been married to Teresa Edwards, who is the co-owner of his franchising business, C. Edwards Group Inc. He also owns a gun shop.

Earlier in his term, the House Communication Standards Commission found “substantial reason to believe” Edwards misused taxpayer-funded mailings, sending materials with unsubstantiated claims against then-President Joe Biden and his son Hunter Biden.

Edwards, whose current run for re-election was endorsed by President Donald Trump in October 2025, is considered a conservative, focusing on strengthening the economy, reducing taxes/regulations, securing the border, and supporting the Second Amendment.

Regarding the probe of his opponent, Jamie Ager, a Fairview farmer and the Democratic challenger for Edwards’ seat who hopes to flip the seat in the mid-term elections, said that “corruption or abuses of power in any way are unacceptable” and that the people of Western North Carolina “deserve to hear from their representative about what these allegations are.”