U.S. Rep. Madison Cawthorn, R-N.C., was defeated Tuesday night in the Republican primary, delivering former President Donald Trump a rare loss this election season when it comes to endorsements.
The youngest member of Congress, some argued that Cawthorn wasn’t quite ready for primetime as he got mired in a number of controversies that may or may not have been of his own making. He lost out to an established GOP politician, state Sen. Chuck Edwards, who was backed by Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., and former Texas Gov. Rick Perry, among others.
Trump offered a last-minute boost for the freshman congressman, telling followers in a message posted on Truth Social: “Recently, he made some foolish mistakes, which I don’t believe he’ll make again. Let’s give Madison a second chance!”
Cawthorn was also backed by another controversial figure, U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla. But it was not to be and while optimistic early on Tuesday evening, Cawthorn didn’t mince words when it came to the reason he was vulnerable in the race — he drew seven GOP challengers, a clear sign of weakness.
“We’ve got high hopes that we will win,” Cawthorn told Fox News before the race was called, even though he was trailing Edwards.
“The biggest thing is probably just the coordinated strike that’s really been carried out by members of my own party,” Cawthorn said, of his dismal showing. “I believe that there’s a war going on between which version of conservatism and Republicanism is going to move forward.”
On that note, the young lawmaker is correct. There are the Trump supporters, aka the MAGA crowd, and then there’s the establishment faction, with Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., being at the head of this group of Republicans who prefer the proverbial high road that doesn’t always deliver results over fighting the left on their terms.
Taking to Twitter after being defeated, Cawthorn showed support for Edwards in the general election over the Democratic nominee:
Congratulations to @ChuckEdwards4NC on securing the nomination tonight.
It’s time for the NC-11 GOP to rally behind the Republican ticket to defeat the Democrats’ nominee this November.
— Madison Cawthorn (@CawthornforNC) May 18, 2022
“This is simply incredible,” Edwards said Tuesday night, according to Fox News. “Against all odds, we fought hard to win this election and provide clear conservative leadership for the mountains.”
Edwards suggested earlier in the week that Cawthorn, who rose to prominence after his 2020 Republican National Convention speech, had forgotten the folks back home, “I believe that he may have gotten lost in the political stardom and forgot what his role was back here at home.”
Fox News detailed some of the controversies the first-term lawmaker got caught up in:
He faced sexual misconduct allegations, which he denied. He was twice stopped by airport security for trying to bring a loaded gun on a plane. In March, he was cited by North Carolina troopers for driving with a revoked license. That’s on top of two previous traffic violations for speeding at 87 and 89 mph.
In March, Cawthorn drew widespread rebuke from his colleagues, including GOP Leader Kevin McCarthy, for claiming in a podcast interview he had been invited to “an orgy” in Washington, had been sexually solicited, and had seen leaders use cocaine. Cawthorn later said he wasn’t talking specifically about his fellow GOP lawmakers.
It was the latter incident that prompted the GOP leader to say of Cawthorn, “He’s lost my trust.”
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Tom Tillison grew up in Maryland before moving to Central Florida as a young teen. It is in the Sunshine State that he honed both his passion for politics and his writing skills. Tillison also contributes to BizPac Review.
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