This story has been up to date so as to add photographs.
ASHEVILLE – U.S. Rep. Chuck Edwards, R-Henderson, and his spouse, Teresa Edwards, have offered the McDonald’s franchises they owned for many years, closing a enterprise chapter that started when Edwards took his first job with the corporate at age16.
Edwards introduced the sale July 13 in a information launch, saying stepping away from restaurant possession would go away the couple extra time for his congressional duties in Western North Carolina. Christine and Chris Nevant of Asheville, longtime buddies of the Edwards household and fellow McDonald’s franchisees, bought the enterprise.
Edwards mentioned his years with McDonald’s influenced each his enterprise profession and his method to public service.
“McDonald’s modified the course of my life,” Edwards mentioned. “It taught me the worth of arduous work, private duty, teamwork, and serving others.”
U.S. Rep. Chuck Edwards, R-N.C., speaks throughout a roundtable with U.S. Homeland Safety Secretary Markwayne Mullin on the Chimney Rock Hearth Division on April 7, 2026.
Earlier than the couple turned franchise homeowners, Teresa Edwards labored as an workplace supervisor for a building firm. They later operated a number of eating places, using staff and serving clients all through the area. The couple has been married since 1980 in keeping with earlier Citizen Instances reporting.
Teresa Edwards took over day by day administration after her husband gained election to the North Carolina Senate in 2016. Her position expanded as Edwards moved from state workplace to Congress in 2023, permitting the corporate to proceed working whereas he served in Raleigh and Washington.
The transaction ends practically 10 years by which Teresa Edwards dealt with a lot of the firm’s operations whereas her husband held public workplace.
“There isn’t any query that Teresa made this potential,” Edwards mentioned within the launch. “She carried the duty of managing our enterprise for practically a decade whereas I served in elected workplace. Her dedication, management, and numerous sacrifices gave me the chance to serve our communities. I could not be extra grateful.”
A McDonald’s restaurant on Brevard Highway in Asheville is amongst a number of Western North Carolina McDonald’s franchises owned by U.S. Rep. Chuck Edwards and his spouse, Teresa Edwards. The couple offered all of them July 13, 2026, in keeping with a information launch.
Edwards described the sale as bittersweet however mentioned the calls for of representing the eleventh Congressional District — hit arduous by Tropical Storm Helene in 2024 — have elevated. He mentioned leaving the restaurant enterprise would enable the household to pay attention extra totally on constituent service and different congressional tasks.
The couple thanked the workers, clients and communities that supported their eating places. The announcement didn’t establish the sale value, say what number of places modified fingers or clarify whether or not staffing could be affected.
Edwards is operating for a 3rd time period in a district that has leaned Republican in latest elections however is considered tighter this cycle. He’ll face Fairview Democrat Jamie Ager in November in what is predicted to be a detailed contest with potential implications for management of the U.S. Home throughout a nationally watched midterm election with slim margins.
The race can also be unfolding whereas Edwards stays underneath investigation by the Home Ethics Committee over allegations that he sexually harassed feminine workers members and fostered a hostile office. Edwards has denied the allegations, described them as politically motivated and mentioned he would cooperate. The committee has emphasised that opening an investigation doesn’t set up {that a} violation occurred.
This story will likely be up to date.
Extra: Home Ethics panel investigates Chuck Edwards for sexual harassment
Extra: Particulars broaden in Chuck Edwards’ alleged affair with former aide
Cory Vaillancourt is the Helene Restoration/Investigations Reporter for the Asheville Citizen Instances. Discover him on X at @The_CoryV or on Sign, through e-mail at cvailllancourt@citizentimes.com or at 912-508-5640.
This text initially appeared on Hendersonville Instances-Information: Chuck Edwards sells McDonald’s franchises amid tight congressional race
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