Early Wednesday morning, US Rep. Chuck Edwards, R-Hendersonville, announced his intention to drop his reelection bid for the 11th Congressional District. Under state law, the Republican executive committee for the 11th Congressional District will decide who replaces Edwards. Corbin represents over half of the counties in the 11th District in the state Senate, and serves as chair of two education committees. If a member of the North Carolina General Assembly were chosen as the replacement nominee, then they would also need a replacement nominee of their own, since candidates cannot run for two offices at once in North Carolina. He doubts the Western North Carolina seat will be the difference maker in the national power struggle, but a bad showing would give up a seat that Republicans have held since 2013.