Madison Cawthorn, a former Congressman from North Carolina, is looking to restart his political career in Florida after his first term, which was full of controversies.
At 30 years old, he declared on social media that he will vie for the congressional position presently held by Rep. Byron Donalds, a Republican eyeing the governor’s seat. Cawthorn is set to enter a likely bustling primary field, featuring aspiring candidates like Jim Oberweis, a past Illinois state legislator with history of pursuing federal posts.
“I’ve never backed down from a fight, and I won’t start now,” Cawthorn proclaimed in his campaign announcement. “I’ll stand with President Trump, crush the woke Left, deport illegals, and help fix Florida’s broken insurance system.”
Initially seen as an emerging talent within his party upon his 2021 Congressional entry at 25, Cawthorn’s tenure was marred by controversies. Allegations he made in 2022 about fellow Republicans inviting him to orgies and cocaine use, alongside issues with traffic law and a loaded gun incident at a Charlotte TSA checkpoint, dominated his time.
Following his loss to Chuck Edwards in the 2022 GOP primary, Cawthorn relocated from North Carolina to Cape Coral in Southwest Florida. He shared with Fox News that the Sept. 10 assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk motivated his renewed political spirit.
