Rep. Madison Cawthorn Concedes Loss in Primary Election To Congress
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North Carolina congressional representative Madison Cawthorn has been unseated after just one term despite backing from Donald Trump.
Cawthorn, the scandal-prone freshman lawmaker backed by former President Donald Trump, conceded defeat in his Republican primary election, Cawthorn’s spokesman told reporters Tuesday night.
Cawthorn called state Sen. Chuck Edwards to concede the race, the spokesman said, according to NBC News. Edwards had been endorsed by U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C.
NBC has yet to project a winner in Cawthorn’s congressional district.
“Congratulations to @ChuckEdwards4NC on securing the nomination tonight,” Cawthorn said in a tweet. “It’s time for the NC-11 GOP to rally behind the Republican ticket to defeat the Democrats’ nominee this November.”
Cawthorn is one of 13 U.S. House members from North Carolina. Now 26 years old, Cawthorn was the youngest member of Congress when he was elected in 2020. His seat, which was previously held by ex-Trump chief of staff Mark Meadows, is a safe Republican district.
Nevertheless, the first-term lawmaker’s reelection bid became one of the state’s most-watched primary races, thanks to a wide range of scandals and missteps that spurred harsh criticism — even from some Republicans.
The controversies swirling around Cawthorn include: making claims about other lawmakers doing illicit drugs and inviting him to orgies; driving with a revoked license; bringing a loaded handgun to an airport; being eyed by ethics watchdogs over suspicions about possible insider trading related to a meme cryptocurrency; calling Ukraine’s president a “thug” amid an invasion by Russia; and others.
Tillis came out swinging against Cawthorn. He endorsed Edwards, a top rival in the GOP primary. A political action committee affiliated with Tillis reportedly spent more than $300,000 on ads attacking Cawthorn. And after the watchdogs raised concerns of possible insider trading, Tillis openly called for a congressional ethics investigation into Cawthorn.
Trump, meanwhile, defended Cawthorn in a social media post over the weekend.
“Recently, he made some foolish mistakes, which I don’t believe he’ll make again,” Trump said of Cawthorn, adding, “Let’s give Madison a second chance!”
Asked by NBC News about Trump’s post, Tillis replied, “Technically, this is the sixth or seventh chance.”
“He hasn’t learned from a mistake he’s made over the last year,” the senator said of Cawthorn.
