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State Senator Chuck Edwards has declared himself the winner of tonight’s hotly contested, nationally spotlighted, Republican congressional primary over incumbent Rep. Madison Cawthorn.

Cawthorn conceded the race for the District 11 seat after 10 p.m. by calling Edwards, according to multiple news outlets. 

 

Edwards won Transylvania, Henderson and Buncombe Counties, which was enough to carry him over the other 12 counties that swung to Cawthorn.

 

In a statement released late Tuesday, Edwards said, “Against all odds, we fought hard to win this election and provide clear conservative leadership for the mountains. I am so grateful for the support I received and am forever indebted to the hardworking people of this district who made this victory possible. Now we will harness this energy, come together as a party, and keep this seat in Republican hands in November. My campaign has been about staying true to mountain values and delivering real results for Western North Carolina, and that is exactly what I intend to do.”

 

In Polk County’s unofficial results, Cawthorn received 1,091 votes or 39.53 percent. Edwards received 1,024 votes, or 37.10 percent. District-wide, with 99.74 percent of precincts reported as of 11:15 p.m., Edwards received 29,411 votes or 33.40 percent in unofficial totals. Cawthorn received 28,092 votes or 31.90 percent.

Edwards will face Democrat Jasmine Beach-Ferrara in the general election in November.