By Sarah Ferris, Lauren Fox, CNN(CNN) — Rep. Chuck Edwards abandoned his reelection bid for a competitive North Carolina seat on Wednesday, after an ethics panel released an investigation that found “substantial evidence” the congressman repeatedly made unwanted advances toward two female staffers. Serving Western North Carolina has been the honor of my life. Top House Republicans were sent scrambling when the chamber’s ethics panel took the rare step of recommending that the full House vote to punish Edwards. The fears come as they’re increasingly worried his western North Carolina seat could flip in November. Republican leadership in western North Carolina will meet next week to select a replacement for Edwards on the November ballot.