Are we watching a Field of Dreams replay?

Congressman Chuck Edwards’ decision to withdraw from November’s congressional election came as no surprise after the House Ethics committee called for his censure. Folks in the mountainous 11^th Congressional District must be wondering what it is going to take to elect a traditional, morally sound, responsible North Carolinian.

Madison Cawthorn won the seat in the 2020 election but it didn’t take long for voters to realize their mistake. His antics alienated even his own party: trying to smuggle a gun through airport security, driving with a revoked license, photos of him wearing women’s lingerie and boasting he had been invited to an orgy. His outrageous behavior was equaled only by his ineffectiveness. No bill he introduced was ever passed and when floodwaters left thousands without power in August 2021, Cawthorn responded with silence. Voters threw him out in 2022 and elected Chuck Edwards.

Edwards, a former McDonalds franchisee, had served in the North Carolina Senate before declaring to run for congress, saying it was time for a grown-up to serve. He was endorsed by Senator Thom Tillis. Even though he lost 12 of the 15 counties in the district in the primary election, he won by capturing Buncombe County with a large enough margin to win the nomination. 

Hurricane Helene’s arrival in 2024, Edwards’ unquestionable support for Trump and lackluster fund raising had already made the district competitive in 26. And Edwards staged a town hall meeting in Asheville in March of 2025 that resulted in boos and frequent interruptions, questioning his inability to get more federal disaster funds for Helene, federal budget cuts and Trump’s policies. He had to be escorted from the meeting.

In Washington, there had been rumors about inappropriate conduct by Edwards. The bi-partisan House Ethics Committee initiated an investigation in April of this year. Following an intensive investigation, they found Edwards “fostered a hostile work environment and engaged in sexual harassment” through “persistent and unprofessional and inappropriate conduct” relating to two female staffers.

For Republicans in the 11^th district this felt like Deja vu. When Senator Dan Bishop urged Edwards to drop out of the race, the die was cast.  Edwards is nothing if not a realist and decided to withdraw from running and serve out his term.

The Democratic nominee for November’s election is Jamie Ager, an Asheville native, fourth generation farmer and co-founder of Hickory Nut Gap Farm, a down-to-earth operation that features pasture-fed meats in cooperation with other like-minded environmentally dedicated producers.

This election is beginning to feel like a Field of Dreams movie playing out in Western Carolina. Central casting could not have chosen a better opponent to represent Democrats. It was already considered a highly competitive election before Edwards dropped out.

 It’s been more than a decade since retired quarterback Democrat Heath Shuler represented the heavily Democratic Buncombe County in Washington. Shuler chose not to run again in 2013, following the legislature’s dramatic gerrymandering of his district, including Asheville into a district heavily stacked with Republicans.

Could this be the year a Democrat wins? Republicans have a problem. If polls are accurate Trump’s popularity, even among conservatives, is low and falling. Would whoever replaces Edwards as the Republican candidate even want a Trump endorsement or would they fare better without it? More importantly, could they keep Trump out of the affair even if they wanted to? The GOP has less than three months to figure out how they can win against someone reminiscent of Kevin Costner.

Morality and traditional values still matter. North Carolina voters will reinforce this in November.

Tom Campbell is a Hall of Fame North Carolina broadcaster and columnist who has covered North Carolina public policy issues since 1965.  Contact him at tomcamp@ncspin.com