WNC Rep. Chuck Edwards constituent 'workhorse'? Or 'fostering extremist relationships'?

One year into his job, Western North Carolina's Republican congressman has made a remarkable leap onto a powerful House committee, threatened tribal constituents over marijuana and tried to establish himself as a hard-working, service-oriented politician.

While first-term 11th District Rep. Chuck Edwards has the most competitive GOP district in North Carolina, he will likely not face a difficult reelection, barring a scandal or seismic political shift ― that, despite Democratic accusations Edwards is cozying up to extremists and attacking abortion access, say supporters, opponents and other political observers.

“I am proud of the work that my team and I have accomplished during my first year in Congress. Introducing 16 bills ― seven of them bipartisan ― and casting tough votes for the good of our citizens and country, such as the recent National Defense Authorization Act supporting our troops, has been challenging but rewarding," Edwards told the Citizen Times Dec. 19, near the halfway mark of his two-year term.

Using a Republican majority, Edwards said the House has helped move a balanced budget forward, stymied Democratic President Joe Biden’s budget proposals, clamped down on the border and passed legislation "to bring energy costs down for hard-working Western North Carolinians."

In addition, he said the lower chamber has passed bills to roll back climate change rules and to allow parent school curriculum review, though they have not been passed by the Democratically controlled Senate.

"It has been the honor of a lifetime for me to represent the folks of WNC and I will continue to encourage transparency and accountability from the federal government," he said.

But those on the right and left say Edwards, a Flat Rock McDonald's franchise owner, has caved in important areas, from debt reduction to an embrace of radicals.

“Edwards voted for the Fiscal Responsibility Act in May. More Democrats voted for that bill than did the Republicans," said GOP primary opponent Christian Reagan, a Clay County mortgage broker scheduled to debate Edwards Jan. 13 in Brasstown.

"Not only did it provide an unlimited debt limit until Jan. 1, 2025, but it gave the Democrats everything that they wanted within the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022," Reagan said.

Democratic 11th District candidate Caleb Rudow criticized Edwards for opposing abortion access, introducing legislation to stop Cherokee marijuana legalization and giving a congressional medallion to far-right Sheriff Richard Mack, who participated in an armed standoff against federal contractors. Rudow, a state House member member and Asheville data scientist, also said Edwards didn't do enough to help more than 1,000 laid-off paper mill workers.

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"Awarding a congressional pin to a known extremist, threatening tribal sovereignty, refusing to collaborate to help Canton, and attacking reproductive rights aren't doing anything to help working families in WNC who are struggling to get by," Rudow said.

Edwards, though, has said he has helped derail Democrats' "bloated budget and tax increases"

He emphasized his work to aid Canton workers and called for an investigation of Pactiv Evergreen executives over potential insider trading. With Mack, Edwards said he knew him through the ex-sheriff's successful Supreme Court case over gun rights, which Edwards said he strongly supports.

Mike Bitzer, a Catawba College political science professor, said even outside his district, Edwards had gotten attention with the faceoff over Cherokee marijuana sales.

"The Stop Pot Act shows a willingness to challenge his own constituents on an issue," he said.

"I think the other important aspect to Edward’s first term is his seat on Appropriations, a key committee in the House that enables members to direct federal funding. He can use that committee assignment to claim credit for various federal funded projects and sell that back to his constituents," Bitzer said.

That was also noted by former WNC Rep. Charles Taylor, who represented the 11th District from 1990 to 2006.

"He maneuvered himself into an Appropriations Committee membership. Since I was on Appropriations through 2007, I think he will continue to do well for the district," Taylor said in a statement sent by spokesperson Deborah Potter.

Edwards also serves on the Oversight Committee that recommended an impeachment inquiry of Biden that was approved by the House on a Dec. 13 party-line vote.

Bitzer said, unlike Edwards' predecessor, former Rep. Madison Cawthorn, who generated constant headlines through scandals and bombastic statements, the current congressman has gone to great pains to show a focus on legislative and constituent work.

"In my view, Edwards has pursued a ‘workhorse’ approach to his first legislative year, rather than former Rep. Madison Cawthorn’s ‘show horse’ style and approach that ultimately doomed his renomination bid," he said.

The Citizen Times reached out to Cawthorn.

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With new congressional lines drawn by Republican state legislators ― disparaged by Democrats as gerrymandered to slant elections to the GOP ― the 11th is the "most competitive" of the state's GOP-leaning districts, Bitzer said. But it still shows a 54% to 46% Republican advantage, the professor said, meaning Edwards' chances are high.

The 11th includes the westernmost counties, including Buncombe.

"While Representative Edwards has a primary opponent, I don’t see anything that would derail his renomination, unlike two years ago," he said.

Sponsored bills

Sixteen bills originated with Edwards, one of which, Promoting Resilient Buildings Act of 2023, passed the House. It has not passed the Senate.

That bill, H.R. 5473 was also backed by Democratic Rep. Donald Norcross of New Jersey. Edwards said it would "reduce burdensome red tape on trade industries, state and local governments, and communities ... while still preserving their resiliency against potential environmental and structural disasters."

Other sponsored bills included:

• The Stop Pot Act to withhold 10% of federal highway funds from states and tribes that permit the use of recreational marijuana.

• The No Representation Without Legal Immigration Act would count only citizens in determining how many members of Congress each state gets. By default it would establish a census citizenship question.

• The Unemployment Integrity Act of 2023 to add requirements to those seeking unemployment insurance, including attending offered job interviews and completing drug test, skills assessments and other employer requests.

Key votes

Petroleum Reserve: The House Jan. 27 passed the Strategic Production Response Act (H.R. 21), sponsored by Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Wash. The bill would require the federal government to take measures to increase oil and natural gas production on federal lands when it makes withdrawals from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. Rodgers said it "will help ensure this vital American energy asset and American security interests will not be drained away for nonemergency, political purposes." A bill opponent, Rep. Frank Pallone Jr., D-N.J., said that by limiting releases from the Reserve, it "will hamstring the single most important tool the Biden administration has used to fight Putin's price hike on gasoline." The vote, on Jan. 27, was 221 yeas to 205 nays. YEAS: Edwards R-NC (11th). Has not passed Senate.

COVID Vaccines and Health Care Workers: On Jan. 31, the House passed the Freedom for Health Care Workers Act (H.R. 497), sponsored by Rep. Jeff Duncan, R-S.C., to cancel the Covid vaccination requirement for health care workers at facilities that receive funds from Medicare and Medicaid. Duncan said the requirement "has only created resentment and distrust toward the government and loss of jobs, nursing jobs, CNA jobs, often replaced with traveling nurses being paid a higher rate, a higher cost for the taxpayers and the hospitals." A bill opponent, Rep. Kathy Castor, D-Fla., said "halting vaccination for healthcare professionals would severely and irreparably harm patients and undermine the patient-public interest." The vote, on Jan. 31, was 227 yeas to 203 nays. YEAS: Edwards R-NC (11th). The bill has not passed the Senate.

Removing Member from Committee: The House on Feb. 2 passed a resolution (H. Res. 76), sponsored by Rep. Max L. Miller, R-Ohio, to remove Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., from the House Foreign Affairs Committee. Miller said the action would state clearly that the House "does not condone hate and to reaffirm that we will always condemn anti-Semitism" that Omar has expressed in remarks criticizing Israel. Omar said she has merely spoken "on behalf of those who are experiencing unjust wars, atrocities, ethnic cleansing, occupation, or displacement." The vote, on Feb. 2, was 218 yeas to 211 nays. YEAS: Edwards R-NC (11th).

Syria War: The House on March 8 rejected a resolution (H. Con. Res. 21), sponsored by Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., that would have required the withdrawal of all U.S. soldiers from Syria. Gaetz said: "We have tried this time and again to build a democracy out of sand, blood, and Arab militias, and time and again the work we do does not reduce chaos. Oftentimes it causes chaos, the very chaos that then subsequently leads to terrorism." An opponent, Rep. Michael T. McCaul, R-Texas, said: "Our small deployment of U.S. servicemembers is remarkably effective at working with local partner forces to achieve results and ensure the enduring and complete defeat of ISIS." The vote, on March 8, was 103 yeas to 321 nays. NAYS: Edwards R-NC (11th).

Student Loans Veto: The House failed June 21 to override President Biden's veto of a resolution (H.J. Res. 45), sponsored by Rep. Bob Good, R-Va., that would have disapproved of and voided an Education Department rule issued last October that suspended or canceled payments on student loans. Good said: "President Biden simply does not have the authority to forgive student loans, and thus, spend hundreds of billions of dollars, taxpayer dollars, hard-earned taxpayer dollars, as he transfers debt to those who did not incur it." A resolution opponent, Rep. Bobby Scott, D-Va., said repeal "would trigger a wave of delinquencies and defaults for most of our vulnerable borrowers." The vote, on June 21, was 221 yeas to 206 nays, with a two-thirds majority required. YEAS: Edwards R-NC (11th).

Expelling Representative: The House Dec. 1 passed a resolution (H. Res. 878), sponsored by Rep. Michael Guest, R-Miss., to expel Rep. George Santos, R-N.Y., from the House. The cited grounds for removal included: campaign finance fraud, false statements on House financial disclosure forms, and lying to receive unemployment benefits. Guest said there was "a complex web of unlawful activity involving Representative Santos' campaign, personal, and business finances." Santos said: "I have done the best I can to serve in this body and to deliver the best I can in my campaign promises to vote as a conservative voice in this body." The vote to expel Santos, on Dec. 1, was 311 yeas to 114 nays, with 2 voting present. YEAS: Edwards R-NC (11th).

Vehicle Emissions Rule: The House Dec. 5 passed the Choice in Automobile Retail Sales Act (H.R. 4468), sponsored by Rep. Tim Walberg, R-Mich., to bar the Environmental Protection Agency from finalizing a proposed rule restricting emissions from passenger vehicles made from 2027 onward. Walberg called the rule an electric vehicle mandate that was both breathtaking federal regulation of the auto industry and "unaffordable, unattainable, and unrealistic for American consumers." An opponent, Rep. Haley M. Stevens, D-Mich., called the bill "dangerous legislation, particularly because the EPA serves as a critical partner to our automakers during this very transformative time" of transitioning away from internal combustion engines. The vote, on Dec. 6, was 221 yeas to 197 nays. YEAS: Edwards R-NC (11th).

Health Care Costs: The House Dec. 11 passed the Lower Costs, More Transparency Act (H.R. 5378), sponsored by Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Wash., to require health care entities and health insurers to disclose costs for various types of care and drugs, and price audits at health plans. Rodgers said the bill "advances foundational healthcare reforms for patients, lowers healthcare costs, and reduces the deficit." An opponent, Rep. Lloyd Doggett, D-Texas, faulted the bill for failing to address price transparency in the Medicare Advantage program and at facilities owned by private equity firms. The vote, on Dec. 11, was 320 yeas to 71 nays. YEAS: Edwards R-NC (11th). The bill has not passed the Senate.

Impeachment Probe: The House Dec. 13 passed a resolution (H. Res. 918), sponsored by Rep. Kelly Armstrong, R-N.D., directing three House committees to continue investigating whether sufficient grounds exist to merit the House impeaching President Biden. Armstrong said: "This inquiry is warranted. It would put the House of Representatives in the best legal position possible to uncover the facts, and the American people deserve nothing less." An opponent, Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., called Biden "a good, honorable, and decent man who dedicated his life to public service and to making a difference for the American people." The vote, on Dec. 13, was 220 yeas to 212 nays. YEAS: Edwards R-NC (11th).

Military Spending: The House Dec. 14 agreed to the conference report for the National Defense Authorization Act (H.R. 2670), sponsored by Rep. Mike D. Rogers, R-Ala., to authorize fiscal 2024 Defense Department spending, and spending on military construction programs and military-related programs at the Energy Department. Rogers said the report "includes critical new authorities to ensure our warfighters have what they need to deter our adversaries and to prevail in future battles. It goes a long way toward ending woke policies being forced on our servicemembers by leftwing bureaucrats." An opponent, Rep. Matt Rosendale, R-Mont., criticized its extension of section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), which he said "has allowed the FBI to spy on U.S. citizens more than 278,000 times without a warrant." The vote, on Dec. 14, was 310 yeas to 118 nays. YEAS: Edwards R-NC (11th).

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Joel Burgess has lived in WNC for more than 20 years, covering politics, government and other news. He's written award-winning stories on topics ranging from gerrymandering to police use of force. Got a tip? Contact Burgess at jburgess@citizentimes.com, 828-713-1095 or on Twitter @AVLreporter. Please help support this type of journalism with a subscription to the Citizen Times.

This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: WNC Rep Chuck Edwards fosters relationships with extremists?