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Former Republican Representative Madison Cawthorn is launching a congressional comeback in Florida after previously serving North Carolina's 11th district. Cawthorn, now 30, announced his candidacy for Florida’s 19th congressional district in an interview with Fox News on Wednesday (September 30). He cited the recent assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk as a pivotal moment that motivated his return to politics.
Cawthorn, who was the youngest congressman elected to the U.S. House of Representatives since 1964, served one term from 2021 to 2023. He lost his primary to Chuck Edwards amid various controversies, including legal issues and accusations of misconduct. Despite these challenges, Cawthorn expressed his determination to represent Florida, emphasizing his experience with hurricane relief in the district and his desire to provide strong representation in Washington, D.C.
The seat he is pursuing is being vacated by GOP Representative Byron Donalds, who is running for governor. Cawthorn's decision comes as he faces five other GOP candidates in the primary election scheduled for August 18, 2026. Cawthorn's campaign is expected to face scrutiny due to his past controversies, including a recent arrest in Florida for failing to appear in court for a traffic citation. He attributed the incident to a scheduling mix-up.