Madison Cawthorn, the controversial former Republican congressman from North Carolina, is seeking a political comeback—this time, from the Sunshine State. On October 1, 2025, Cawthorn, now 30, announced his candidacy for Florida’s open 19th congressional district, a seat soon to be vacated by Rep. Byron Donalds as he pursues a run for governor. The district, which covers Naples, Cape Coral, Fort Myers, and Marco Island, is considered a Republican stronghold, with former President Donald Trump having carried it by nearly 30 points in the last election, as noted by The Downballot.
In a phone call with Fox News Digital, Cawthorn explained that the recent assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk was a decisive moment for him. “After Charlie Kirk’s assassination, I knew that there was really no option. I’ve decided to run for Congress again,” he said. Cawthorn, who had spoken at events hosted by Kirk’s Turning Point USA, described the tragedy as a catalyst, though he admitted he had been weighing a run since Donalds announced his own campaign for governor.
"Florida is the heart of the MAGA movement leading America, and leading the world toward freedom, growth and opportunity," Cawthorn declared in his campaign launch video, according to Roll Call. He added, “I know what it means to be underestimated, and I know what it means to fight back.”
Cawthorn’s political journey has never been short of drama. Elected at age 25 in 2020 to North Carolina’s 11th district, he became the youngest member of Congress in more than half a century. He quickly rose to national prominence, delivering a prime-time speech at the 2020 Republican National Convention, where he famously rose from his wheelchair and leaned on a walker—an image that resonated with many viewers. Cawthorn aligned himself closely with Trump, championing the former president’s “America First” agenda on issues like immigration, gun rights, and opposing what he calls “woke ideology.”
But Cawthorn’s meteoric rise was matched by a series of controversies. His time in office was marred by negative headlines, including being cited for attempting to bring a gun onto a plane and for driving with a revoked license. The Charlotte Police and the North Carolina State Highway Patrol were both involved in these incidents. In April 2022, he pleaded guilty to possessing a dangerous weapon at Charlotte airport. Later that spring, a video surfaced of Cawthorn behaving in what he described as a “crass” manner with a friend—fueling further criticism.
Perhaps most infamously, Cawthorn alleged on a podcast that fellow lawmakers had used cocaine and invited him to orgies. These claims outraged Republican leadership, with then-House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy reportedly scolding him. Cawthorn later admitted to Fox News Digital that his statements were “exaggerated.” He told the outlet, “There’s so many people that take advantage of freshman [members], and I think that I’m the right man for the job.”
His reelection campaign in 2022 was clouded by these scandals, as well as accusations that he violated the STOCK Act by failing to disclose ownership of cryptocurrency in which he had a financial interest. The House Ethics Committee found he had indeed violated conflict of interest rules by promoting a cryptocurrency he owned. Despite Trump’s endorsement—who urged voters to “give Madison a second chance!”—Cawthorn lost the Republican primary to state Sen. Chuck Edwards by a narrow 1.5-point margin.
After his defeat, Cawthorn moved to southwest Florida, settling in Cape Coral. He remained in the public eye, and, according to AP, he has since become an outspoken critic of both Democratic and Republican insiders, claiming he was “railroaded out of Washington, D.C., by the radical left and members of [his] own party” for “telling the truth” about the capital. “You can start looking at things that happened months after I left, and I think it proves the things I was talking about,” he told Fox News Digital.
Legal trouble has followed Cawthorn into Florida. Just last month, he was arrested for failing to appear in court for a traffic citation related to driving with a revoked or suspended license. He chalked up the incident to a “mixup about court timings,” expressing confidence that the matter would soon be resolved. “It was a simple mistake, whether through scheduling or a mishap in changing schedules,” he said.
On his campaign website and in public statements, Cawthorn continues to double down on his alignment with Trump and conservative causes. “Madison Cawthorn knows the system is rigged against hard-working families. Washington insiders cut deals while Floridians pay the price. That’s why he’s running for Congress: to defend the America First agenda, hold bureaucrats accountable, and put Floridians first,” reads his official announcement. He has also promised to “stand with President Trump, crush the woke Left, deport illegals, and help fix Florida’s broken insurance system.”
Cawthorn’s entry into the race adds to a crowded Republican primary field. Other declared candidates include former U.S. Rep. Chris Collins of New York, who was pardoned by Trump after pleading guilty to insider trading; former Illinois state Sen. Jim Oberweis, a perennial candidate; Marine aviator Mike Pedersen; and Sun Broadcasting President Jim Schwartzel. The top Democrat in the race is Howard Sapp, a community organizer with several unsuccessful bids for the state legislature under his belt. With the district’s deep-red tilt, the winner of the GOP primary will be heavily favored in the 2026 general election.
Despite the cloud of past controversies, Cawthorn is framing his campaign as a fight for conservative values and against entrenched political interests. “If you want someone who is going to go to Washington, D.C., to be swayed by outside money, [who is] just going to fade off into the swamp until they die in office… I’m not your guy,” he told Fox News Digital. “But if you want someone who is going to fight for the values that conservatives truly believe in, who is going to pursue morals and ethics… then I’m your guy.”
The primary election for Florida’s 19th congressional district is set for August 18, 2026. With a field full of political veterans and newcomers alike, and with Cawthorn’s knack for drawing headlines—good or bad—the race is sure to capture national attention in the months ahead.
For Cawthorn, the road back to Washington is steep and fraught with familiar obstacles, but he appears undeterred, ready to once again test his luck in the arena of American politics.
