It was a strong election for Republicans in Western North Carolina. Chuck Edwards was projected to win his bid to replace Madison Cawthorn in the 11th District, and incumbents Patrick McHenry and Virginia Foxx were also projected to win reelection by healthy margins. 

Edwards defeated Democrat Jasmine Beach-Ferrara by nearly 10% of total votes.

Despite liberal enclaves like Asheville and Boone, the congressional districts in western North Carolina are considered safe red districts.

The Republican primary in the 11th District, which includes Asheville down to the southwestern tip of the state, was one of the most closely watched nationally. 

Rep. Madison Cawthorn, the youngest member of congress, faced a crowded field of Republicans aiming to unseat him after a string of controversies and missteps.

Edwards, seen as a strong part of North Carolina’s GOP establishment, won the primary with a big enough margin to avoid a runoff.

He served three terms in the North Carolina Senate, representing a district that includes Henderson, Transylvania and part of Buncombe counties.

In the northwest corner of the state, Foxx was projected to win reelection with 63% of the vote. Democrat Kyle Parrish had 36% of the vote.

Foxx has represented the district since 2005. The 5th Congressional District runs from Boone and the High Country, through the foothills and down to Winston-Salem.

This will be Foxx’s 10th term in the House representing northwestern North Carolina.

In the foothills, McHenry was also projected to win reelection to his 10th term in Congress. He was 29 when he was first elected to the House in 2004.

McHenry was projected to defeat Democrat Pamela Genant with 72% of the vote to take another term representing North Carolina’s 10th Congressional District.

Every member of the United States House of Representatives was up for election in the midterms. The balance of power in Congress was on the ballot, with Republicans hoping to get a majority in both the House and Senate.

Many expected a “red wave” in the midterm elections. By Wednesday morning, the country should know which party will control the House and Senate for the final two years of President Joe Biden’s term.

Get full election results for North Carolina and across the country here.