On October 3, 2025, two controversial political figures—Cori Bush of Missouri and Madison Cawthorn of North Carolina—each announced comeback bids for Congress, setting the stage for high-profile rematches in the 2026 election cycle. Both former representatives carry the weight of their turbulent tenures, the scars of bruising defeats, and the challenge of convincing voters they deserve another shot at public office.
Cori Bush, a Democrat who once belonged to the progressive "squad" in the U.S. House, launched her campaign to reclaim Missouri's 1st District seat, which she lost in 2024 by more than five points to fellow Democrat Wesley Bell. In a launch video, Bush declared, "I ran for Congress to change things for regular people. I’m running again because St. Louis deserves leadership that doesn’t wait for permission, doesn’t answer to wealthy donors and doesn’t hide when things get tough." According to Roll Call, Bush's announcement signals a rematch in what was one of the most expensive and contentious primaries of 2024.
Bush’s political journey has been anything but ordinary. She first rose to prominence as an activist in the aftermath of the Ferguson unrest in 2014, following the killing of Michael Brown Jr. by a police officer. Her grassroots efforts propelled her to a stunning upset in 2020, when she unseated longtime Democratic incumbent William Lacy Clay. Once in Congress, Bush quickly made waves, staging a protest over the expiring federal housing eviction moratorium and often voting as a bloc with other progressive "squad" members. Her opposition to the 2021 infrastructure package, alongside five other progressives, drew headlines and criticism from within her own party.
But Bush’s tenure was not without controversy. She faced a federal investigation over her campaign's use of funds for private security, including hiring her now-husband. She has consistently denied any wrongdoing. The 2024 primary that ended her congressional stint was shaped by a bitter split over Israel policy. Bell, a liberal prosecutor with a record of overturning wrongful convictions, received heavy support from pro-Israel groups, while Bush was one of the most vocal critics of the Jewish state in Congress. According to Roll Call, pro-Israel PACs spent approximately $8.6 million attacking Bush or supporting Bell, with additional funds from other PACs like Fairshake, which spent $1.4 million opposing Bush.
Despite the onslaught, Bush remained focused on her record. In her announcement, she emphasized, "We brought billions of dollars home directly to our community. We secured flood relief when disasters struck our neighbors. But because I spoke truth, they pushed back. Attacked my name, my motives, spread lies and hate." Bush’s comeback bid coincides with a volatile political landscape in Missouri, where a new congressional map engineered by state Republicans has left the 1st District as the state’s only Democratic-leaning seat. The map faces ongoing court challenges and a ballot initiative that could upend the current lines.
Meanwhile, in Florida, Madison Cawthorn, a former North Carolina representative and once a rising star in MAGA circles, announced his own political comeback. Cawthorn is seeking to fill the open House seat vacated by Rep. Byron Donalds, who is running for governor. According to NOTUS, Cawthorn’s announcement video leaned heavily on his past ties to Donald Trump, including a photo of the two together. But if Cawthorn is hoping for the former president’s support, he may be in for disappointment.
"No way," said one source close to Trump when asked by NOTUS whether Cawthorn would receive the president’s backing. Another source near the White House remarked, "I don’t think it’s a high priority" to help Cawthorn’s campaign. The skepticism is rooted in Cawthorn’s tumultuous first term and a series of scandals that included allegations of sexual misconduct, insider trading, and being detained for attempting to bring a loaded gun onto a plane. Perhaps most damaging were his claims on a podcast that lawmakers had invited him to an orgy and used cocaine, which infuriated Republican leadership.
Despite these controversies, Trump initially stood by Cawthorn. But after Cawthorn lost his seat in 2022, the tide turned. As NOTUS noted, Trumpworld is known for distancing itself from candidates who lose, especially after receiving the president’s endorsement. "Madison was a disaster in his first term in Congress and everything that Team Trump has seen from him since, only makes people think he’s going to be even a bigger disaster this time around," a source close to the White House told NOTUS. Another national GOP strategist added, "Madison Cawthorn is a perfect example of the kind of pretender and fraud that has no place in the current GOP."
House GOP leadership is equally unsupportive. Former House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy once said Cawthorn had "lost my trust." One House GOP aide put it bluntly: "House Republicans want Madison Cawthorn back about as bad as they want a colonoscopy." Another compared Cawthorn to Steve Stifler from "American Pie," but "minus the charm and twice the stupidity." A former leadership aide, recalling the difficulties of working with Cawthorn, said, "Working with Madison was like babysitting a TikTok influencer who thought he was Winston Churchill. My condolences to the good people of Naples if they have to endure his embarrassments."
Cawthorn’s path to the nomination is further complicated by a crowded field, including former New York Rep. Chris Collins, who resigned after pleading guilty to insider trading but later received a pardon from Trump. The race for Florida’s open seat is shaping up to be a circus, with five candidates who have previously run for Congress in other states. Yet, Cawthorn’s notoriety and polarizing reputation make him a particularly high-profile contender—albeit one with few friends in high places.
As both Bush and Cawthorn attempt to claw their way back into Congress, they face not only the ghosts of their pasts but also the realities of shifting political alliances, deep-pocketed opposition, and skeptical party establishments. Their stories are reminders of how quickly fortunes can change in American politics—and how the road to redemption is rarely smooth, especially when the wounds are still fresh.
For voters in Missouri’s 1st District and Florida’s soon-to-be-vacant seat, the coming months will offer a front-row seat to the drama of political comebacks. Whether Bush and Cawthorn can overcome their baggage and persuade constituents to give them a second chance remains to be seen. But one thing is certain: neither is likely to fade quietly into the background.
