Chuck Edwards

ASHEVILLE - U.S. Rep. Chuck Edwards, R-Henderson, and his wife, Teresa Edwards, have sold the McDonald’s franchises they owned for decades, closing a business chapter that began when Edwards took his first job with the company at age16.

Edwards announced the sale July 13 in a news release, saying stepping away from restaurant ownership would leave the couple more time for his congressional duties in Western North Carolina. Christine and Chris Nevant of Asheville, longtime friends of the Edwards family and fellow McDonald’s franchisees, purchased the business.

Edwards said his years with McDonald’s influenced both his business career and his approach to public service.

“McDonald’s changed the course of my life,” Edwards said. “It taught me the value of hard work, personal responsibility, teamwork, and serving others.”

Before the couple became franchise owners, Teresa Edwards worked as an office manager for a construction company. They later operated multiple restaurants, employing workers and serving customers throughout the region. The couple has been married since 1980 according to previous Citizen Times reporting.

Teresa Edwards took over daily management after her husband won election to the North Carolina Senate in 2016. Her role expanded as Edwards moved from state office to Congress in 2023, allowing the company to continue operating while he served in Raleigh and Washington.

The transaction ends nearly 10 years in which Teresa Edwards handled most of the company’s operations while her husband held public office.

"There is no question that Teresa made this possible," Edwards said in the release. "She carried the responsibility of managing our business for nearly a decade while I served in elected office. Her dedication, leadership, and countless sacrifices gave me the opportunity to serve our communities. I couldn't be more grateful."

Edwards described the sale as bittersweet but said the demands of representing the 11th Congressional District — hit hard by Tropical Storm Helene in 2024 — have increased. He said leaving the restaurant business would allow the family to concentrate more fully on constituent service and other congressional responsibilities.

The couple thanked the employees, customers and communities that supported their restaurants. The announcement did not identify the sale price, say how many locations changed hands or explain whether staffing would be affected.

Edwards is running for a third term in a district that has leaned Republican in recent elections but is thought to be tighter this cycle. He will face Fairview Democrat Jamie Ager in November in what is expected to be a close contest with possible implications for control of the U.S. House during a nationally watched midterm election with narrow margins.

The race is also unfolding while Edwards remains under investigation by the House Ethics Committee over allegations that he sexually harassed female staff members and fostered a hostile workplace. Edwards has denied the allegations, described them as politically motivated and said he would cooperate. The committee has emphasized that opening an investigation does not establish that a violation occurred.

This story will be updated.