Madison Cawthorn, once hailed as the Republican Party’s next rising star before a spectacular fall from grace, is plotting a dramatic political comeback—this time, not in his native North Carolina, but in the sun-drenched, staunchly conservative 19th congressional district of Florida. On October 1, 2025, the 30-year-old former congressman announced his candidacy for the seat being vacated by Byron Donalds, who is running for governor—a move that has reignited debate about redemption, scandal, and the nature of second chances in American politics.
Cawthorn’s announcement came during a phone call with Fox News Digital and was quickly amplified by a campaign video and statements on social media. He cited the recent assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk in September 2025 as the core reason for his return to the political arena, telling Fox, “After Charlie Kirk’s assassination, I knew that there was really no option. I’ve decided to run for Congress again.” He added, “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.”
Yet, as IBTimes notes, Cawthorn had reportedly been “juggling” the idea of running since Byron Donalds announced his plans to leave the seat, and he had already begun meeting with Florida Republicans before Kirk’s death. While some see his invocation of Kirk’s legacy as a heartfelt tribute, others question whether it is a calculated move to rally the conservative base. Regardless, Cawthorn has made the tragedy a central pillar of his campaign, aligning himself with a figure revered by many on the right.
Florida’s 19th district, which encompasses Cape Coral, Fort Myers, Naples, and Marco Island, is considered a safe Republican stronghold. The area is no stranger to high-profile conservative figures, and Cawthorn is banking on its deep-red electorate to offer him a fresh start after his tumultuous first stint in Congress. He’s not alone in the race, however; at least five other GOP candidates—including former U.S. Rep. Chris Collins of New York and former Illinois state Sen. Jim Oberweis—have filed to run in the August 2026 primary. On the Democratic side, community organizer Howard Sapp has declared his candidacy, though the district’s political makeup makes a Democratic victory a steep climb.
Cawthorn’s campaign messaging leaves little doubt about where he stands: “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,” he declared on X (formerly Twitter) on the day of his campaign launch. On his website, he promises to defend the “America First agenda,” hold bureaucrats accountable, and put Floridians first, echoing the themes that propelled him to national prominence in 2020.
But Cawthorn’s rise was as meteoric as his fall was dramatic. At just 25, he became the youngest congressman elected since 1964, representing North Carolina’s 11th district from 2021 to 2023. His compelling life story—overcoming a devastating car crash that left him partially paralyzed—helped fuel his initial appeal. Yet, almost immediately, controversy began to swirl. Allegations of sexual misconduct from his college days surfaced, which he has denied. He also faced repeated driving violations, including being charged multiple times for driving with a revoked license, and was caught bringing loaded firearms into restricted areas, including a Charlotte airport in April 2022, for which he pleaded guilty.
Cawthorn’s penchant for headline-grabbing statements also drew ire from both sides of the aisle. He claimed on a podcast that members of Congress had invited him to orgies and used cocaine in front of him, prompting then-House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy to reportedly scold him and say he had “lost my trust.” Cawthorn later admitted his claims were “exaggerated.” He was further accused of violating the STOCK Act by failing to disclose ownership of crypto stock, and a scandalous video from May 2022 showed him “thrusting” at another individual—a clip he dismissed as “being crass with a friend, trying to be funny.”
His short congressional career was capped by his appearance at the “Stop the Steal” rally on January 6, 2021, where he urged crowds to “fight” before the Capitol insurrection. Later, he claimed the rioters had been “paid by the Democratic machine.” These scandals and controversies contributed to his defeat in the 2022 North Carolina GOP primary, after which he relocated to Cape Coral, Florida, seeking a new political base.
Despite—or perhaps because of—his checkered past, Cawthorn is framing his campaign as a battle against the political establishment. “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. “There’s a lot of people in Washington, D.C., who enjoy just having talking points that members have used for decades and decades.” He insists he was “railroaded out of Washington, D.C., by the radical left and members of [his] own party” for telling “the truth” about the city.
His recent legal troubles have not gone unnoticed. Early last month, Cawthorn was arrested in Florida for failing to appear in court for a traffic citation. He explained the incident as a “mix-up about court timings,” expressing confidence that the case would resolve in his favor. “It was a simple mistake, whether through scheduling or a mishap in changing schedules,” he said.
For all the controversy, Cawthorn remains both defiant and unapologetic. “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. “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.”
Yet, as IBTimes and The Telegraph both point out, the shadow of his past looms large. Analysts suggest that any further misstep—legal, ethical, or rhetorical—could quickly derail his attempt at political rehabilitation. Florida’s 19th district may be a Republican fortress, but its voters are no strangers to political spectacle. Whether they see Cawthorn as a principled fighter or a scandal-prone opportunist will determine if his comeback bid succeeds, or collapses under the weight of his own history.
With the Republican primary set for August 18, 2026, the stage is set for a high-stakes contest that will test not only Cawthorn’s personal resilience but also the appetite of Florida conservatives for risk, redemption, and a return to the headlines.
