Chuck Edwards

Edwards was born in Waynesville, North Carolina. He graduated from West Henderson High School in 1978 and studied business, accounting, and marketing at Blue Ridge Community College.{{Cite web |title=Chuck Edwards |url=https://ballotpedia.org/Chuck_Edwards |access-date=2022-05-18 |website=Ballotpedia |language=en |archive-date=2023-12-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231222120010/https://ballotpedia.org/Chuck_Edwards |url-status=live }}

File:ChuckEdwardsNC.jpeg

Edwards joined McDonald's in 1989, working as an operations manager until 1991, senior business consultant from 1991 to 1996, and development coordinator from 1996 to 1998. He also worked as the vice president of Henderson County Partners for Economic Progress.{{Cite web |last=Moss |first=Bill |date=January 29, 2013 |title=Henderson County Business: Small business background preps Edwards for Chamber role - Hendersonville Lightning |url=https://www.hendersonvillelightning.com/business/1245-small-business-background-preps-edwards-for-chamber-role.html |access-date=2022-05-18 |website=www.hendersonvillelightning.com |language=en-gb}} In 2013, he became a director of Entegra Financial Corporation.{{Cite web |title=Charles Edwards' Biography |url=https://justfacts.votesmart.org/candidate/biography/166600/charles-edwards |access-date=2022-05-18 |website=Vote Smart}} In 2020, Entegra merged with First Citizens Bank.{{Cite web |title=First Citizens Bank Completes Merger With Entegra Financial Corp., Entegra Bank |url=https://www.firstcitizens.com/about-us/newsroom/news-releases/2020/entegra-financial-corp-merger |access-date=2022-05-18 |website=www.firstcitizens.com |language=en}}

Edwards was appointed to the North Carolina Senate in August 2016 after Tom Apodaca resigned. He defeated Democratic nominee Norman Bossert in 2016, and was reelected in 2018 and 2020.{{Cite web |title=Chuck Edwards |url=https://ballotpedia.org/Chuck_Edwards |access-date=December 30, 2021 |website=Ballotpedia |language=en |archive-date=December 22, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231222120010/https://ballotpedia.org/Chuck_Edwards |url-status=live }} In 2024, Edwards held a ceremony and awarded Donald Trump with a French Fry Certification Pin, an award that he invented.{{Cite web |last=Nicholls |first=Flynn |date=2024-10-22 |title=Donald Trump given McDonald's award in hurricane-"obliterated town" |url=https://www.newsweek.com/donald-trump-given-mcdonalds-award-hurricane-obliterated-town-1972841 |access-date=2025-02-20 |website=Newsweek |language=en}}

Acting on a complaint filed by the Henderson County (North Carolina) Democratic Party, Edwards was sanctioned by the House of Representatives Communications Standards Commission on April 24, 2024, for making personal attacks against President Joe Biden and his son, Hunter Biden, in email newsletters sent to constituents in May, June, July and December, 2023.{{Cite web |author=WLOS Staff |date=2024-04-25 |title=Rep. Chuck Edwards sanctioned by House commission over communications rules violation |url=https://wlos.com/news/local/congressman-chuck-edwards-sanctioned-house-communications-standards-commission-henderson-county-democratic-party-second-complaint-newsletters-us-representatives |access-date=2024-05-17 |website=WLOS |language=en}} Such attacks are prohibited by federal law and by rules of the House of Representatives when they are sent out as "mass communications" at taxpayer expense.{{Cite web |title=The House of Representatives Communications Standards Manual |url=https://cha.house.gov/_cache/files/2/8/28813611-bf6e-4edb-a9e6-b71aa2681b89/2A790B128F05A6F0EC5102CF12A5076D.2024-communications-standards-manual-may.pdf}}

{{main|2022 United States House of Representatives elections in North Carolina#District 11}}

On November 30, 2021, Edwards declared his candidacy for North Carolina's 11th congressional district in the 2022 election.{{Cite web |last=King |first=Kimberly |date=November 30, 2021 |title=Republicans eye open seats after Sen. Edwards announces congressional run |url=https://wlos.com/news/local/republicans-eye-open-seats-after-sen-edwards-announces-congressional-run |access-date=December 30, 2021 |website=WLOS News 13}} The district was represented by freshman Republican incumbent Madison Cawthorn. Cawthorn faced numerous scandals, had made a number of controversial statements, and was criticized by Edwards as an ineffective legislator.{{cite web |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/madison-cawthorn-north-carolina-chuck-edwards-primaries-scandal-political-stardom-2022-5 | title=Rep. Madison Cawthorn's primary challenger Chuck Edwards wants to focus on results for North Carolina — not his opponent's many scandals | website=Business Insider }} Edwards was also endorsed by U.S. Senator Thom Tillis.

On May 17, 2022, Edwards defeated Cawthorn in the Republican primary with 33.4% of the vote.{{Cite news |last=Ulloa |first=Jazmine |date=2022-05-18 |title=Madison Cawthorn loses his re-election bid after a deluge of scandals. |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/05/17/us/politics/madison-cawthorn-concedes-nc-primary-gop.html |access-date=2022-05-18 |issn=0362-4331}} Although he lost 12 of the district's 15 counties, he carried Buncombe, its most populous, by over 2,000 votes, exceeding his overall margin of 1,338. Edwards also defeated Cawthorn in Henderson County by 3,191 votes. Henderson County is home to both Edwards and Cawthorn.{{cite web |url=https://er.ncsbe.gov/contest_details.html?election_dt=05/17/2022&county_id=0&contest_id=2122 |title=NC SBE Election Contest Details |access-date=2022-05-20 |archive-date=2022-11-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221119045310/https://er.ncsbe.gov/contest_details.html?election_dt=05/17/2022&county_id=0&contest_id=2122 |url-status=live }}

Source:{{Cite web |title=Committees and Caucuses|url=https://edwards.house.gov/about/committees-and-caucuses|website=edwards.house.gov|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250305140429/https://edwards.house.gov/about/committees-and-caucuses|archive-date=March 5, 2025|url-status=live}}

• National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs Subcommittee (vice chair)

• Financial Services and General Government Subcommittee

Source:

• Congressional YIMBY Caucus (co-chair)
• Congressional Aggregates Caucus
• Congressional Fire Services Caucus
• Congressional Pro-Life Caucus
• Congressional Sportsmen's Caucus
• Conservative Climate Caucus
• Election Integrity Caucus
• Fix Congress Caucus
• Main Street Caucus
• Problem Solvers Caucus
• Republican Study Committee

Edwards voted, with the 412–10 bipartisan majority, to provide Israel with support following the 2023 Hamas attack on Israel.{{Cite news |last=Demirjian |first=Karoun |date=2023-10-25 |title=House Declares Solidarity With Israel in First Legislation Under New Speaker |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/10/25/us/politics/house-israel-vote.html |access-date=2023-10-30 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=2023-10-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231030064517/https://www.nytimes.com/2023/10/25/us/politics/house-israel-vote.html |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last=Washington |first=U. S. Capitol Room H154 |last2=p:225-7000 |first2=DC 20515-6601 |date=2023-10-25 |title=Roll Call 528 Roll Call 528, Bill Number: H. Res. 771, 118th Congress, 1st Session |url=https://clerk.house.gov/Votes/2023528 |access-date=2023-10-30 |website=Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives |language=en |archive-date=2023-10-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231030025934/https://clerk.house.gov/Votes/2023528 |url-status=live }}

Asked in 2025 whether he supported Trump's push to forcibly annex Canada and Greenland, Edwards answered, "No, I do not."{{Cite web |last1=Smith |first1=Allan |last2=Nicholas |first2=Peter |date=2025-03-14 |title=Trump's quest to conquer Canada is confusing everyone |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/trump-quest-conquer-canada-confusing-everyone-rcna195657 |website=NBC News |language=en}}

In January 2024, Edwards introduced legislation which would prevent immigrants from being counted by the United States census, for the purposes of determining the United States congressional apportionment.{{Cite web |last=King|first=Kimberly|date= January 25, 2024|title=Congressman Chuck Edwards introduces legislation targeting immigrants|url=https://wlos.com/news/local/congressman-chuck-edwards-introduces-legislation-targeting-immigrants |access-date= February 14, 2024|website=WLOS |language=en}} In February 2024, Edwards posted a picture on X of a large migrant caravan in Mexico in order to criticize the immigration policies of the Biden administration, suggesting that Joe Biden was at fault for the migrants in the picture immigrating to the United States. However, the picture was taken in 2018, during the administration of Donald Trump.{{Cite web |last=Zurick|first=Maura|date= February 13, 2024|title=Republican Congressman's Meme About Border on Biden's Watch Backfires|url=https://www.newsweek.com/republican-congressman-meme-border-biden-backfires-1869718 |access-date= February 14, 2024|website=Newsweek |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Moye|first=David|date= February 14, 2024|title=GOP Rep. Blames Biden For Border Issues Using Pic Taken During Trump Era

|url=https://www.newsweek.com/republican-congressman-meme-border-biden-backfires-1869718 |access-date= February 14, 2024|website=Yahoo|language=en}}

Chuck Edwards has an "F" rating from the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML) for his voting history regarding cannabis-related causes.https://vote.norml.org/politicians/166600

{{Election box begin no change

| title = North Carolina's 11th congressional district, 2022 Republican primary

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|candidate=Chuck Edwards|party=Republican Party (United States)|votes=29,496|percentage=33.4}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change|candidate=Madison Cawthorn (incumbent)|party=Republican Party (United States)|votes=28,112|percentage=31.9}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change|candidate=Matthew Burril|party=Republican Party (United States)|votes=8,341|percentage=9.5}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change|candidate=Bruce O'Connell|party=Republican Party (United States)|votes=6,037|percentage=6.8}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change|candidate=Rod Honeycutt|party=Republican Party (United States)|votes=5,775|percentage=6.5}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change|candidate=Michele Woodhouse|party=Republican Party (United States)|votes=4,668|percentage=5.3}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Republican Party (US)|candidate=Wendy Nevarez|votes=4,525|percentage=5.1}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Republican Party (US)|candidate=Kristie Sluder|votes=1,304|percentage=1.5}}

{{Election box total no change|votes=88,258|percentage=100.0}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin no change

| title = North Carolina's 11th congressional district, 2022 General Election

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| candidate = Chuck Edwards

| party = Republican Party (United States)

| votes = 174,232

| percentage = 53.8

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| candidate = Jasmine Beach-Ferrara

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| votes = 144,165

| percentage = 44.5

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| candidate = David Coatney

| party = Libertarian Party (United States)

| votes = 5,515

| percentage = 1.7

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 323,912

| percentage = 100.0

}}

{{Election box hold with party link no swing

| winner = Republican Party (United States)

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin no change |title=North Carolina's 11th congressional district, 2024 General Election{{cite web |title=11/05/2024 OFFICIAL GENERAL ELECTION RESULTS - STATEWIDE |url=https://er.ncsbe.gov/?election_dt=11/05/2024&county_id=0&office=FED&contest=0 |publisher=North Carolina State Board of Elections |access-date=February 2, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250126202710/https://er.ncsbe.gov/?election_dt=11/05/2024&county_id=0&office=FED&contest=0 |archive-date=January 26, 2025 |url-status=live}}}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

|party = Republican Party (United States)

|candidate = Chuck Edwards (incumbent)

|votes = 245,546

|percentage = 56.8

}}{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Caleb Rudow

|votes = 186,977

|percentage = 43.2

}}{{Election box total no change

|votes = 432,523

|percentage = 100.0

}}{{Election box hold with party link no change

| winner = Republican Party (United States)

}}

{{Election box end}}

Edwards and his wife, Teresa, have had two children. In 2018, his 36 year old son died from firearm suicide after a lengthy period of untreated depression, leaving a baby daughter and wife behind. Despite this, Edwards is still a staunch gun rights supporter.{{Cite web |date=2018-05-22 |title=Today@NCCapitol: Moment of silence |url=https://www.wral.com/today-nccapitol-moment-of-silence/17570442/ |access-date=2022-05-18 |website=WRAL.com |language=en |archive-date=2023-02-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230210095556/https://www.wral.com/today-nccapitol-moment-of-silence/17570442/ |url-status=live }}

{{Reflist}}

• [https://edwards.house.gov/ Congressman Chuck Edwards] official U.S. House website
• [https://www.chuckedwardsforcongress.com/ Campaign website]
• {{ CongLinks | congbio = E000246 | fec = H2NC14050 | votesmart = 166600 | congress = chuck-edwards/E000246}}
• {{C-SPAN|9279013}}

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Category:1960 births

Category:Cannabis prohibition

Category:Living people

Category:People from Waynesville, North Carolina

Category:North Carolina Republicans

Category:Republican Party members of the United States House of Representatives from North Carolina

Category:Republican Party North Carolina state senators

Category:21st-century members of the North Carolina General Assembly

Category:21st-century members of the United States House of Representatives