The announcement signals a potential political comeback for Cawthorn, who is seeking to leverage an open seat in a district currently held by Republican Rep. Byron Donalds, who is running for governor. Cawthorn, who relocated to Cape Coral after his 2022 primary defeat in North Carolina, is campaigning on an "America First" platform.
Cawthorn's foray into national politics began in North Carolina's 11th Congressional District, where he served one term from January 3, 2021, to January 3, 2023. His tenure in Washington was marked by controversy and frequent media attention. He was the youngest member of Congress at the time, elected at age 25. Despite his rapid ascent, Cawthorn ultimately lost his bid for renomination in the Republican primary in May 2022, leading to his departure from Congress and subsequent move to Florida.
However, his latest political ambitions come at a time of renewed legal scrutiny. Just weeks before his congressional announcement, Cawthorn was arrested in Florida. In September 2025, he was taken into custody in Cape Coral on a warrant for failing to appear in court for a traffic citation. The underlying citation, issued by Naples police in August 2025, was for driving without a license (or driving with a suspended/revoked license). He was booked into the Lee County jail and later released on a $2,000 bond. A statement from his team attributed the missed court date to a "scheduling misunderstanding."
This recent incident adds to a documented history of driving-related offenses for the former Congressman. Records show multiple instances of him being cited for driving without a valid license:
March 2022 (North Carolina): Cawthorn was cited by the North Carolina State Highway Patrol for driving with a revoked license (a misdemeanor charge). This came after a trooper pulled him over for driving left of the center line. This particular incident was noted as his third traffic violation in five months, following two speeding citations in late 2021 and early 2022.
2017 (North Carolina): Legal documents also indicate a prior charge of driving on a revoked license in 2017, which was ultimately dismissed.
As Cawthorn embarks on his new campaign, his past legal challenges, particularly his driving record, are likely to be a recurring point of discussion and scrutiny in the Florida political landscape.
WNCTimes
Image: Madison Cawthorne Social Media