Madison Cawthorn seeks comeback, running for Congress in Florida
Source: ABC News/AP
October 1, 2025, 12:49 PM
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Former Republican U.S. Rep. Madison Cawthorn, who was defeated in 2022 in a North Carolina primary, is looking for a comeback by running for Congress again, this time from Florida.
Cawthorn, 30, announced in an online video Wednesday that he would seek the southwest Florida seat currently held by Rep. Byron Donalds, who is running for Florida governor. The district is overwhelmingly Republican, and Cawthorn moved there shortly after his primary defeat.
On his website, Cawthorn aligns his views closely with those of President Donald Trump on issues such as immigration restrictions, promoting gun rights and pushing against woke ideology." "Madison Cawthorn knows the system is rigged against hard-working families. Washington insiders cut deals while Floridians pay the price. Thats why hes running for Congress: to defend the America First agenda, hold bureaucrats accountable, and put Floridians first," says his announcement, posted on his website.
Cawthorn served a single House term from a western North Carolina district before losing in the 2022 GOP primary to current Rep. Chuck Edwards following a reelection campaign clouded by ethical issues.
Read more: https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory/madison-cawthorn-seeks-comeback-running-congress-florida-126123908
RELATED - https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143527991

Roy Rolling
(7,324 posts)Republican strategists estimate the party faithful have fallen low enough to nominate someone like him.
Envirogal
(249 posts)Madison committed an unforgivable sin of revealing the truth about GOP freak flag gatherings.
Bernardo de La Paz
(59,143 posts)There is also a photo of him with a man's penis near his face, according to wikipedia. He faces numerous allegations of sexual harassment. He was stopped twice carrying a gun and ammunition on to a plane.
https://www.politico.com/news/2022/04/22/madison-cawthorn-photos-00027286
Nothing wrong with anybody wearing women's lingerie, but I don't think manly maga men will find it appealing or supportable.
snowybirdie
(6,367 posts)He's been arrested twice in the past year. One was a DUI. This according to local WINK news might be a problem.
FBaggins
(28,449 posts)The other most likely candidate for republican nomination is former congressman Chris Collins from NY... who pleaded guilty to insider trading and was briefly imprisoned before Trump pardoned him on the way out the door in 2020.
But there are a bunch of lesser names in the mix and it's a safe red seat
EuterpeThelo
(75 posts)he misses the cocaine-fueled orgies, then?
Deuxcents
(24,251 posts)struggle4progress
(124,714 posts)by Kelly Doty
Thu, September 11th 2025 at 8:16 AM
Updated Thu, September 11th 2025 at 3:41 PM
LEE COUNTY, Fl. (WLOS) Former U.S. Representative Madison Cawthorn was arrested in Florida on Sept. 10, 2025, for failing to appear in court, according to online records.
Cawthorn was taken into custody on Wednesday and released just over an hour later on a $2,000 bond, according to online records from the Lee County Sheriff's Office.
The former representative of North Carolina's 11th congressional district is accused of missing a court date related to a charge of driving while his license was suspended or revoked in Collier County.
The arrest comes amid recent speculation the former lawmaker is planning a return to politics, with reports that he is exploring a run for Florida's District 19 seat.
https://wlos.com/news/local/former-representative-madison-cawthorn-charged-failure-appear-court-florida-suspended-license-case-lee-county-sheriffs-office-north-carolina-district-11
Lemon Lyman
(1,508 posts)Back when he resigned there was a video of him performing sex acts with a man. If memory serves, the other man was some kind of relative of his or something (cousin?). In the video Cawthorne was making weird noises like, "Ooga booga ooga booga."
drmeow
(5,787 posts)I thought there was some sort of sex scandal associated with him but could not remember what it was.
Ray Bruns
(5,634 posts)