Former North Carolina Republican Congressman Madison Cawthorn announced on Wednesday that he is launching a bid to return to Congress in Florida. Cawthorn will compete for the 19th congressional district seat vacated by Rep. Byron Donalds, who is running for governor.
“I’ve never backed down from a fight, and I won’t start now. I’ll stand with President Trump, crush the woke Left, deport illegals, and help fix Florida’s broken insurance system,” Cawthorn stated.
Cawthorn, who represented North Carolina’s 11th district from 2021 to 2023, was ousted in the 2022 GOP primary after a tenure marked by multiple high-profile scandals. He has been registered to vote in Florida since 2023, according to state records.
During his time in Congress, Cawthorn repeatedly attacked Republican colleagues, alleging without evidence that some had invited him to cocaine-fueled sex parties. He also faced allegations of sexual misconduct, insider trading, and bringing a handgun to an airport.
Cawthorn recently claimed he decided to run again following the assassination of conservative figure Charlie Kirk, stating, “I want to make sure [the people of Florida] have amazing representation in Washington, D.C., because I know exactly what happens in the swamp.”
Conservative activist Robby Starbuck endorsed Cawthorn, pledging to “max out” his campaign. Cawthorn also addressed past legal troubles, claiming he was “railroaded out of Washington, D.C., by the radical left and members of [his] own party” for speaking “the truth.”
He recently faced a court appearance mishap in Florida, where he was arrested for failing to appear on a traffic citation. Cawthorn described it as a “mixup about court timings,” insisting his legal team expects a “positive direction” for the case.
Despite controversies, Cawthorn insisted, “It’s about time we have a legislative branch that’s willing to fight.”
