(The Center Square) – State Sen. Tim Moffitt of Henderson County is considering a bid and evolving into the leading candidate – if he chooses to run – for the 11th Congressional District seat from North Carolina.
Embattled Republican Rep. Chuck Edwards has dropped his reelection bid. A meeting is scheduled Monday to decide among party leaders in the district.
Once viewed as a safe Republican seat in the national outlook for majority control in the U.S. House of Representatives, the race has grown in priority for Democrats. They hope to retain the redrawn 1st Congressional District seat of Rep. Don Davis, D-N.C., win reelection bids in the state’s three main urban areas, and now add a fifth seat to change their 10-4 deficit in representation to no worse than 9-5.
Republicans still believe an 11-3 advantage from the state is within reach.
Others in the first 36 hours since Edwards, embattled by an ethics report released Monday, did an overnight withdrawal Wednesday morning who could be hoping for selection are state Sen. Ralph Hise of Mitchell County and state Reps. Karl Gillespie, of Macon County and Jake Johnson of Polk County.
Reportedly not pursuing the seat are state Sens. Kevin Corbin of Macon County and Warren Daniel of Burke County, and state Rep. Mark Pless of Haywood County. State Rep. Jennifer Balkcom of Henderson County initially said she would consider entertaining a run, then said she would support Moffit.
Edwards withdrew from his reelection bid for a third term about 3:30 a.m. on Wednesday, less than 48 hours after the Committee on Ethics in the U.S. House of Representatives released its report. He’s accused of inappropriate behavior with female staff much younger than the 65-year-old.
He is expected to face an ethics censure vote in the House when it returns from recess.
Democrat Jamie Ager is on the Nov. 3 ballot.
Republicans’ 220-215 edge in the South Wing of the Capitol won in November 2024 is today 218-212 with one independent formerly Republican caucusing with his former party, and four vacancies.
