Summary
Current Position: US Representative of NC District 10 since 2005
Affiliation: Republican
Former Position: Represented the 48th district in the North Carolina Senate from 2016 to 2023
District: western part of Rutherford County and the entirety of Avery, Buncombe, Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Mitchell, Polk, Swain, Transylvania, and Yancey Counties includes all of Asheville
Upcoming Election:
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. In 2013, he became a director of Entegra Financial Corporation. In 2020, Entegra merged with First Citizens Bank.
OnAir Post: Chuck Edwards NC-11
News
About
Source: Government site
Congressman Chuck Edwards serves as the U.S. representative for North Carolina’s 11th District, which covers 15 counties in the state’s western mountains.
A Hendersonville businessman and civic leader, Chuck previously served three terms in the North Carolina Senate beginning in 2016. There, he gained a reputation as a workhorse, serving on 18 committees – chairing eight of them – and focusing on improving the lives of those in his district and for all North Carolinians.
In November 2022, Chuck was elected to Congress.
In the U.S. House of Representatives, Chuck’s work ethic was recognized, and he has the rare honor as a freshman of being selected to sit on three committees: the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, the Budget Committee, and the Committee on Oversight and Government Accountability.
He serves on six subcommittees: On Oversight, he sits on Cybersecurity, Information Technology and Government Innovation; Economic Growth, Energy Policy and Regulatory Affairs; Government Operations and the Federal Workforce.
On Transportation and Infrastructure, he sits on Economic Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management; Highways and Transit; and Water Resources and Environment.
However, as important as that legislative work is, Chuck’s main focus continues to be serving his constituents, helping them interface with federal agencies, assisting with problems, and trying to make life better for Western North Carolinians. His office motto is “First in constituent services.”
Chuck and his wife, Teresa, live in Flat Rock, NC.
Personal
Full Name: Charles ‘Chuck’ Marion Edwards
Gender: Male
Family: Wife: Teresa; 2 Children: Chris (deceased), Kimberly
Birth Place: Waynesville, NC
Religion: Christian
Source: Vote Smart
Education
Attended, Business, Accounting, Marketing, Blue Ridge Community College, 1979-1983
Representative, United States House of Representatives, North Carolina, District 11, 2023-present
Candidate, United States House of Representatives, North Carolina, District 11, 2022, 2024
Senator, North Carolina State Senate, District 48, 2016-2023
Candidate, North Carolina State Senate, District 48, 2020
Political Experience
Professional Experience
Director, Entegra Financial Corporation, 2013-present
Owner, C. Edwards Group, Incorporated, 1998-present
Vice President, Henderson County Partners for Economic Progress, present
Development Coordinator, McDonald’s Corporation, 1996-1998
Senior Business Consultant, McDonald’s Corporation, 1991-1996
Operations Supervisor, McDonald’s Corporation, 1989-1991
Offices
Washington DC Office
1505 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515Phone: (202) 225-6401
Hendersonville District Office
200 North Grove Street
Suite 121
Hendersonville, NC 28792Phone: (828) 435-7310
Fax: (771) 200-5795
Contact
Email: Government
Web Links
Politics
Source: none
Election Results
To learn more, go to this wikipedia section in this post.
Committees
- House Committee on Oversight and Accountability
- Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, Information Technology, and Government Innovation
- Subcommittee on Economic Growth, Energy Policy, and Regulatory Affairs
- Subcommittee on Government Operations and the Federal Workforce
- For more information on the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability, please click here
- House Committee on Transportation & Infrastructure
- Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management
- Subcommittee on Highways and Transit
- Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment
- For more information on the House Committee on Transportation & Infrastructure please click here
- House Budget Committee
- For more information on the House Budget Committee, please click here
- Caucuses
New Legislation
Learn more about legislation sponsored and co-sponsored by Congressman Edwards.
Issues
Committees and Caucuses
- House Committee on Oversight and Accountability
- Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, Information Technology, and Government Innovation
- Subcommittee on Economic Growth, Energy Policy, and Regulatory Affairs
- Subcommittee on Government Operations and the Federal Workforce
- For more information on the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability, please click here
Votes and Legislation
One of the most important aspects of Congress is developing, making, and monitoring laws. New legislation is passed almost every week. Please contact our office to share your thoughts on current legislation that may affect you, your family and your community.
Learn more about legislation sponsored and co-sponsored by Congressman Edwards.
- House Committee on Transportation & Infrastructure
- Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management
- Subcommittee on Highways and Transit
- Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment
- For more information on the House Committee on Transportation & Infrastructure please click here
- House Budget Committee
- For more information on the House Budget Committee, please click here
More Information
Services
Source: Government page
District
Source: Wikipedia
North Carolina’s 11th congressional district encompasses most of Western North Carolina. Since January 3, 2023, the district has been represented by Chuck Edwards.[3]
The 11th district has historically been known for its volatile politics and was once considered one of the most competitive congressional districts in North Carolina. It was traditionally anchored by the heavily Democratic city of Asheville, with the rest of the district being split between Democratic-leaning counties in the south and Republican-leaning counties in the north. Consequently, congressional races were historically hard-fought and often very close.
In 2011, the Republican-controlled legislature redrew the district, shifting much of Asheville to the 10th district, where the city’s Democratic tilt was diluted by the overwhelming Republican inclination of the rest of the district. The new map split Asheville in such a way that in some neighborhoods, one side of the street moved to the 10th while the other side of the street stayed in the 11th.[4]
To make up for the loss in population, the 11th absorbed some strongly Republican territory in the Foothills which had previously been in the 10th. On paper, it was one of the most Republican districts in the state. Due to the district becoming much more conservative, three-term Democratic incumbent Heath Shuler did not run for reelection in 2012, and was succeeded by Republican Mark Meadows.
In 2019, a panel of North Carolina judges ruled that the existing map was a partisan gerrymander, and ordered new congressional districts to be drawn ahead of the 2020 election.[5] After review in December, a new map was approved.[6][7] The district included the western part of Rutherford County and the entirety of Avery, Buncombe, Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Mitchell, Polk, Swain, Transylvania, and Yancey Counties. It still leans Republican, but much less so than the previous iteration, as it once again includes all of Asheville.[6][7]
On February 23, 2022, the North Carolina Supreme Court approved a new map which removed Avery and Mitchell Counties from the district.[8]
Wikipedia
Charles Marion Edwards (born September 13, 1960)[citation needed] is an American politician serving as the U.S. representative for North Carolina’s 11th congressional district since 2023. A member of the Republican Party, he represented the 48th district in the North Carolina Senate from 2016 to 2023.[1][2]
Early life and education
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.[3]
Career
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.[4] In 2013, he became a director of Entegra Financial Corporation.[5] In 2020, Entegra merged with First Citizens Bank.[6]
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.[7]
U.S. House of Representatives
Elections
2022
On November 30, 2021, Edwards declared his candidacy for North Carolina’s 11th congressional district in the 2022 election.[8] 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.[9] 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.[10] 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.[11]
Political positions
Edwards voted, with the 412-to-10 bipartisan majority, to provide Israel with support following the 2023 Hamas attack on Israel.[12][13]
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.[14] 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.[15][16]
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.[17] 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.[18]
Electoral history
U.S. House of Representatives
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Chuck Edwards | 29,496 | 33.4 | |
| Republican | Madison Cawthorn (incumbent) | 28,112 | 31.9 | |
| Republican | Matthew Burril | 8,341 | 9.5 | |
| Republican | Bruce O’Connell | 6,037 | 6.8 | |
| Republican | Rod Honeycutt | 5,775 | 6.5 | |
| Republican | Michele Woodhouse | 4,668 | 5.3 | |
| Republican | Wendy Nevarez | 4,525 | 5.1 | |
| Republican | Kristie Sluder | 1,304 | 1.5 | |
| Total votes | 88,258 | 100.0 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Chuck Edwards | 174,232 | 53.8 | ||
| Democratic | Jasmine Beach-Ferrara | 144,165 | 44.5 | ||
| Libertarian | David Coatney | 5,515 | 1.7 | ||
| Total votes | 323,912 | 100.0 | |||
| Republican hold | |||||
Personal life
Edwards and his wife, Teresa, have had two children. In 2018, his 36 year old son died from a self-inflicted gunshot after a lengthy period of untreated depression.[19]
References
- ^ “Chuck Edwards replaces Tom Apodaca, will complete Apodaca’s term”. WLOS News 13. Associated Press. August 24, 2016. Retrieved June 13, 2018.
- ^ “Senator Chuck Edwards – Biography – North Carolina General Assembly”. North Carolina General Assembly. Retrieved June 13, 2018.
- ^ “Chuck Edwards”. Ballotpedia. Retrieved 2022-05-18.
- ^ Moss, Bill (January 29, 2013). “Henderson County Business: Small business background preps Edwards for Chamber role – Hendersonville Lightning”. www.hendersonvillelightning.com. Retrieved 2022-05-18.
- ^ “Charles Edwards’ Biography”. Vote Smart. Retrieved 2022-05-18.
- ^ “First Citizens Bank Completes Merger With Entegra Financial Corp., Entegra Bank”. www.firstcitizens.com. Retrieved 2022-05-18.
- ^ “Chuck Edwards”. Ballotpedia. Retrieved December 30, 2021.
- ^ King, Kimberly (November 30, 2021). “Republicans eye open seats after Sen. Edwards announces congressional run”. WLOS News 13. Retrieved December 30, 2021.
- ^ “Rep. Madison Cawthorn’s primary challenger Chuck Edwards wants to focus on results for North Carolina — not his opponent’s many scandals”. Business Insider.
- ^ Ulloa, Jazmine (2022-05-18). “Madison Cawthorn loses his re-election bid after a deluge of scandals”. The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2022-05-18.
- ^ “NC SBE Election Contest Details”.
- ^ Demirjian, Karoun (2023-10-25). “House Declares Solidarity With Israel in First Legislation Under New Speaker”. The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2023-10-30.
- ^ Washington, U. S. Capitol Room H154; p:225-7000, DC 20515-6601 (2023-10-25). “Roll Call 528 Roll Call 528, Bill Number: H. Res. 771, 118th Congress, 1st Session”. Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives. Retrieved 2023-10-30.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ King, Kimberly (January 25, 2024). “Congressman Chuck Edwards introduces legislation targeting immigrants”. WLOS. Retrieved February 14, 2024.
- ^ Zurick, Maura (February 13, 2024). “Republican Congressman’s Meme About Border on Biden’s Watch Backfires”. Newsweek. Retrieved February 14, 2024.
- ^ Moye, David (February 14, 2024). “GOP Rep. Blames Biden For Border Issues Using Pic Taken During Trump Era”. Yahoo. Retrieved February 14, 2024.
- ^ WLOS Staff (2024-04-25). “Rep. Chuck Edwards sanctioned by House commission over communications rules violation”. WLOS. Retrieved 2024-05-17.
- ^ “The House of Representatives Communications Standards Manual” (PDF).
- ^ “Today@NCCapitol: Moment of silence”. WRAL.com. 2018-05-22. Retrieved 2022-05-18.
External links
- Congressman Chuck Edwards official U.S. House website
- Campaign website
- Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
- Financial information (federal office) at the Federal Election Commission
- Legislation sponsored at the Library of Congress
- Profile at Vote Smart
- Appearances on C-SPAN
