NC-11: Chuck Edwards (R)

REPLACING:

Madison Cawthorn (R)[i]

WORK HISTORY:

North Carolina State Senate (State Senator, District 48); C. Edwards Group (President, Owner); Entegra Financial Corp. (Director); McDonalds Corp. (Coordinator / Consultant / Manager / Crew Member)[ii] [iii]

EDUCATION:

Diploma, West Henderson High School; Attended Blue Ridge Community College[iv]

CAMPAIGNED ON:

Secure The Border; Balance The Budget; Energy Independence; Empower Parents & Improve Education; Pro-Life Values[v]

ON THE ISSUES

REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS:

Edwards identifies as a “pro-life candidate who believes life begins at conception.” As a state senator, he supported legislation including the “Born Alive Bill” and the “Human Life – No Discrimination Act.” He is endorsed by the National Right to Life Committee and Susan B. Anthony Pro Life America.[vi]

ECONOMY, JOBS & TAXES:

Enacting a Balanced Budget Amendment will be one of Edwards “top priorities” in Congress.[vii] He has blamed rising inflation in the US on Biden’s policies, including “the exorbitant amount of stimulus money dumped into the economy.”[viii] He is endorsed by the National Federation of Independent Business, which says Edwards has worked to “provide tax and regulatory relief for small businesses statewide.”[ix]

HEALTHCARE & SOCIAL SAFETY NET:

Once opposed to Medicaid expansion in North Carolina, Edwards voted in favor of expanding the healthcare program in 2022. In a statement on his decision, Edwards said, “The Affordable Care Act is not going away. All legal and legislative attempts to overturn it have been exhausted. […] With high prices, poor access, and inefficient outcomes, it has become very evident that the time to act is now” He also said the ACA has “caused healthcare prices to sky-rocket.”[x]

IMMIGRATION & BORDER SECURITY:

Edwards advocates for strengthening US borders, restoring funding to build the border wall, and “forcing” all federal agencies to enforce immigration laws. He opposes amnesty and taxpayer-funded benefits for undocumented immigrants. As a state senator, Edwards sponsored legislation outlawing sanctuary cities in North Carolina.[xi]

CRIME & PUBLIC SAFETY:

Edwards strongly opposes defunding the police, arguing it will result in “more crime, not less.” He called the decision by the Asheville City Council to cut police spending “reckless” and a danger to public safety. He further suggested defunding cities that defund the police.[xii] Edwards opposed a North Carolina medical marijuana bill, arguing, “this is going to lead to more alcohol abuse, more drug abuse.”[xiii] His campaign was endorsed by numerous law enforcement officials and organizations.[xiv]

GOVERNMENT INSTITUTIONS & ELECTION SECURITY:

Edwards has said he’s been fighting for voter identification “his entire career” in the state senate, which he argues would be a “giant step in the right direction” to secure election integrity. He has echoed Trump’s praise of North Carolina for “giving him a good, clean election,” adding, “we are free of fraud and free of some trickery.”[xv]

EDUCATION:

As a state senator, Edwards has advocated for “more school choice and more transparency by school boards.” He opposes forcing mandates, school closures, and teaching “radical” Critical Race Theory.[xvi] He has called student debt forgiveness “another inflation-causing attempt to save an election for the very liberals who have wrecked our economy.”[xvii]

CLIMATE CHANGE, ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT:

Edwards argues that Congress should enact Trump-supported policies to promote energy independence. He opposes the Green New Deal, which he called a “liberal energy and climate” experiment. Edwards has also criticized policy decisions by Biden, including shutting down construction of the Keystone XL Pipeline, banning the exploration of oil and gas in the Arctic, and the banning of oil and gas leasing on federal lands.[xviii]

GUN SAFETY:

Edwards is a staunch supporter of the Second Amendment, is a member of the NRA, and is endorsed by the NRA.[xix] [xx] [xxi] He is federally licensed firearms dealer and has said he will “oppose any attempts by states” to infringe on the Second Amendment.[xxii] [xxiii]

FOREIGN POLICY:

Edwards argues that Congress needs to be “tough on China,” adding that he will “get tough on Biden and China, and force China” to uphold the trade deal it previously made with Trump.[xxiv]