Former Rep. Madison Cawthorn Plans Florida Congressional Comeback

Former North Carolina Republican Rep. Madison Cawthorn is planning a political comeback by running for Florida's 19th Congressional District seat, which will be vacant due to Rep. Byron Donalds' gubernatorial campaign. Cawthorn, who served from 2021 to 2023 and was the youngest member of Congress at the time, lost his 2022 primary following several controversies including allegations of sexual misconduct, claims of GOP colleagues' misconduct, and airport security incidents involving firearms. Despite these scandals, Cawthorn met with Republican lawmakers on Capitol Hill to discuss his potential bid but did not meet with House Speaker Mike Johnson. Donalds acknowledged discussing Cawthorn's possible run and expressed a belief in his growth and maturity since his earlier tenure. The district is expected to have a competitive GOP primary with multiple candidates already filing. Cawthorn's return could pose challenges for House Republican leadership, given his history of turning on party leaders and making controversial claims.