Republican Edwards cruises to 11th District US House seat win over Democrat Beach-Ferrara

FLETCHER - In a race that pitted political opposites on issues ranging from immigration to abortion, Republican Chuck Edwards has won Western North Carolina's congressional seat, cruising to victory over Democrat Jasmine Beach-Ferrara.

The Henderson County Republican declared victory around 10 p.m. Nov. 8 after Beach-Ferrara, a Buncombe County commissioner from Asheville, called him to concede. According to unofficial results, Edwards had 173,706 votes or 53.9% of the total to Beach-Ferrara's 142,910, or 44.3%. Libertarian David Adam Coatney had 5,447, or 1.7%.

"I'm so excited to have the opportunity to go to Washington, D.C. and say, the folks in Western North Carolina have had enough," Edwards said to applauding supporters gathered at the WNC Agricultural Center on election night.

"We are sick and tired of watching our economy that was so strong be destroyed in just a few months. We are so tired of watching illegal immigrants come across the border we are so tired of watching violent crime rates rise here in these mountains. We are so sick and tired of watching our children die from drug overdoses, and we know we can fix those things. Those are those are things that government can have an impact on," he said.

Edwards' victory marks more than a decade that the 11th District ? which includes liberal Asheville and Buncombe County surrounded by conservative counties ? will be represented by a Republican.

More:11th District voter turnout in Asheville, WNC among highest: US House election data

Growing up in a difficult working class background in the mountains, Edwards found employment while in high school at a McDonald's. He became the owner of multiple McDonald's franchises and in 2016 won election to the state Senate, serving three terms in that upper house of the General Assembly.

To reach the general election he won a crowded primary that included the far-right scandal-ridden incumbent Rep. Madison Cawthorn, also of Henderson County.

More:House Ethics to investigate Cawthorn over cryptocurrency, relationship with staffer

Supporters echoed issues listed by Edwards, adding petroleum production, abortion and rolling back LGBTQ rights.

"Chuck has a great grasp of what this country needs. He has a grasp of what needs to be done with the other Congressmen in Washington to get us back on track, particularly with fossil fuels, taxes and the border patrol," said former Henderson County Board of Commissioners Chair Grady Hawkins. "We need to get our borders secure and also get a handle on inflation. Chuck knows what all the issues are and he's ready to go deal with them."

Dan Gilbert, an insurance agent, said he appreciated that Edwards supported police at a time they were under severe scrutiny and calls for reduced funding after revelations of police shootings and murder of Black people, such as Minneapolis resident George Floyd. In the N.C. Senate Edwards sponsored a bill to punish cities that cut police funding.

More election coverage:

More:Asheville mayor: Manheimer wins 3rd term; council member Roney trails with 45% of vote

More:NC election results: Buncombe County commission all Democrats with Martin Moore victory

More:Asheville council race: Ullman wins night, incumbents Smith and Mosley retain seats

More:Miller victorious for 2nd term in Buncombe County Sheriff's race

More:NC House, Senate races: Mayfield, most Democrats win, but State Sen. Daniel keeps seat

One of the most important things with Chuck winning is that crime is out of control. Every time you turn around, someone wants to get rid of this police department or that one. He supports police, firemen... they are all important to me," he said.

Gilbert also noted he was a business owner and was "business-minded."

"He's also pro-life and for a marriage between a man and a woman. Those are all things I believe in."

Beach-Ferrara, meanwhile, was a well-known champion of LGBTQ rights. Raised by a single mother nurse in Chapel Hill she attended Harvard Divinity School, becoming a minister in the United Church of Christ and later LGBTQ rights activist who rose to national prominence. She was elected to the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners in 2016 and is serving her second term.

In a concession speech made at the Orange Peel in Asheville, she told supporters that she had called Edwards "to congratulate him and to wish him and his family the very best as they move forward into their next chapter."

Beach-Ferrara said that the race had been about how "day in and day out we do the work of building politics based on love and hope and empathy ? a politics based on how we build tables where there is room for every single person.

"One thing that our family has learned as an LGBTQ family in the South, and that I bet a lot of folks in this room know in your hearts too, is that there are nights when you win, and there are nights when you lose, and either way the work goes on."

More:Historic victories for Asheville LGBTQ candidates could mean new wave of representation

Those who voted for her said issues important to them were abortion and justice.

"I think it's sad that my grandmothers had more rights than I do in this particular moment," Emily Matthews said of the Supreme Court's recent decision curtailing abortion rights.

Bill Baugh of Asheville said despite the polarization of politics he believed Beach-Ferrara had the ability and personality to work with people of different persuasions.

"I think she would bring some civility. She's she's a minister. She's a great person. I think she could maybe work across the aisle."

As the parties vied for control of the House and Senate, the 11th District was not seen as one of the more competitive races, with polls and past voting by residents showing a Republican advantage.

Edwards term will begin Jan. 3. House members are paid $174,000.

Hendersonville Times-News Editor Dean Hensley contributed to this story.

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 [email protected], 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: GOP's Edwards wins WNC's House seat over Democrat Beach-Ferrara