Former North Carolina congressman throws his hat in the ring again — in a new state



As more candidates announce their campaigns ahead of the 2026 midterms, the race for the coveted Florida congressional seat currently occupied by Byron Donalds just got more crowded.

Madison Cawthorn, who represented North Carolina's 11th congressional district from 2021 to 2023, announced that he will be running for Donalds' congressional seat in a political comeback run in 2026.

'I'll fight to lower out-of-control insurance costs and stop crime in our streets and deport illegals.'

Citing Charlie Kirk's death in a Wednesday Instagram post as an impetus for his decision to run, Cawthorn said, "I have been juggling this decision for some time now. Once Charlie was assassinated this became no decision at all. There is only one course of action for those of us who want to live in a free, prosperous, and safe land to do: Be extremely shrewd, fearless in the face of backlash and resistance, and to stand up and fight for our country."

"I'm running for Congress to stand with President Trump, defend our conservative values, and fight to stop the radical left every single time," Cawthorn said in a YouTube video posted on Wednesday. "I'll fight to lower out-of-control insurance costs and stop crime in our streets and deport illegals."

RELATED: Madison Cawthorn wins, becoming youngest member of Congress

Photo by Alexander Tamargo/Getty Images for Latino Wall Street

In an interview clip, Cawthorn expressed his intent to take up a bill championed by Donalds that would assist citizens impacted by flood insurance costs.

Cawthorn is joining a crowded field of candidates vying for Donalds' congressional seat in Florida. Donalds has announced that he will not seek re-election to Congress and will be running for governor in 2026.

According to News-Press, the Republican field of candidates includes Chris Collins, a former U.S. representative from New York; Illinois businessman Jim Oberweis; retired Marine Mike Pedersen; and president of Sun Broadcasting Jim Schwartzel. On the Democrat side, Howard Sapp is the lone candidate at this time.

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Rep. Cawthorn concedes in North Carolina congressional GOP primary; Fetterman wins Democratic U.S. Senate primary in Pennsylvania, but GOP results not yet clear



U.S. Rep. Madison Cawthorn of North Carolina conceded to state Sen. Chuck Edwards in a GOP primary contest on Tuesday, according to reports that cite Cawthorn campaign spokesperson Luke Ball.

Cawthorn, who is currently serving his first term in the U.S. House of Representatives, had been seeking a second term in office.

During remarks, Edwards said that Cawthorn had "offered his support to our campaign in absolutely any way that we could use him."

The Associated Press has called Pennsylvania's Democratic U.S. Senate primary contest for lieutenant governor John Fetterman.

Fetterman suffered a stroke last week and had a pacemaker inserted on Tuesday.

"I just got out of a procedure to implant a pacemaker with a defibrillator in my heart. We got the all-clear that it was successful, and that I’m on track for a full recovery. Thank yinz for the well-wishes - it means the world to me," Fetterman tweeted on Tuesday. "Now back to resting + recovering!"

I just got out of a procedure to implant a pacemaker with a defibrillator in my heart. We got the all-clear that it was successful, and that I\u2019m on track for a full recovery.\n\nThank yinz for the well-wishes - it means the world to me. \n\nNow back to resting + recovering!
— John Fetterman (@John Fetterman) 1652827206

It is unclear which Republican primary candidate will face Fetterman in the general election later this year. Former President Donald Trump has thrown his support behind Dr. Mehmet Oz, a celebrity who previously hosted a television program.

"Democrats are united around John, who is a strong nominee, will run a tough race, and can win in November," President Joe Biden said in a statement. "And while we await the results of the GOP primary, one thing is clear — these candidates are not your father's GOP. They have fought a malicious, chaotic primary campaign to be the most extreme. And they have shown people their authentic selves — that whoever emerges will be too dangerous, too craven, and too extreme to represent Pennsylvania in the United States Senate."

Democrats could face significant headwinds during the 2022 midterm eleciton cycle. Americans have been getting soaked by soaring inflation which has been eroding the purchasing power of their hard-earned money. The AAA national average price for a gallon of regular gas is a whopping $4.523 as of Tuesday. And Biden's job approval ratings have been underwater in polls for quite some time.

Madison Cawthorn Concedes Primary Against GOP State Sen. Chuck Edwards

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