Former Rep. Madison Cawthorn (R-N.C.) is now reportedly returning to politics with a congressional bid in Florida’s 19th District, a safe Republican seat along the state’s Gulf Coast.
The announcement, made Wednesday, marks a dramatic re-entry for the 28-year-old conservative firebrand who once represented North Carolina’s 11th District.
Cawthorn filed paperwork with the Federal Election Commission and told Fox News Digital that the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk spurred his decision. “I knew there really was no option,” Cawthorn said. “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.”
Cawthorn, who described himself as the “right man” for the job, argued that his prior experience on Capitol Hill uniquely prepares him to stand up to the gamesmanship that consumes new lawmakers. “There’s so many people that take advantage of freshmen [members],” he noted, casting himself as a battle-tested figure ready to fight entrenched interests.
Florida’s 19th District, which includes Naples, Cape Coral, and Fort Myers, is currently held by Rep. Byron Donalds (R), who is running to succeed Gov. Ron DeSantis (R). The opening provides Cawthorn with a strong opportunity to return to Washington, this time as part of Florida’s conservative powerhouse delegation.
Cawthorn entered Congress in 2021 as the youngest member of the House and a rising star on the Right, succeeding Rep. Mark Meadows (R). But his tenure was marred by controversies that ultimately cost him renomination in 2022. He alleged that he had witnessed Washington elites engaging in cocaine use and claimed he had been invited to sex parties, comments that drew rebukes from senior Republicans. He was cited for bringing a firearm to a TSA checkpoint in Charlotte.
The House Ethics Committee also investigated him over allegations of insider trading. That probe, along with a steady drumbeat of negative headlines, contributed to his primary loss to Rep. Chuck Edwards (R-N.C.) in 2022.
Still, Cawthorn’s appeal with parts of the Republican base has remained strong. His unapologetic style, willingness to defy political correctness, and ability to channel populist anger into action set him apart from more conventional GOP figures. By tying his return to the death of Charlie Kirk, he is tapping into the broader conservative outrage over escalating political violence.
If successful, Cawthorn’s candidacy would mark not only a personal comeback but also a symbolic statement about the resilience of the conservative movement in the face of tragedy. “I want to make sure [the people of Florida] have amazing representation,” he emphasized, suggesting his fight is less about image and more about ensuring conservative values have an uncompromising voice in Washington.
For Republicans, his bid adds another brash and unfiltered voice to a party that has long thrived on insurgents willing to challenge the status quo. For critics, it’s a reminder that, despite past controversies, Cawthorn remains a force eager to reclaim the spotlight.
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