Madison Cawthorn, a rookie member of the US House of Representatives, conceded defeat in the Republican party’s primaries in North Carolina. He was being challenged by state Senator Chuck Edwards.
Both lawmakers had entered the electoral race with significant backing. Cawthorn was backed by former US President Donald Trump while Edwards had been endorsed by US Senator Thom Tillis.
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Cawthron, 26, reportedly left his election night party early, and a spokesperson told reporters that he was conceding the race.
Cawthorn’s electoral campaign to secure the GOP’s nomination for the 11th Congressional district of North Carolina had been marred by a flurry of controversies. Edwards, along with other primary hopefuls, used these controversies to undermine Cawthorn’s nomination, Associated Press reported.
He previously infuriated fellow Republicans in the US Congress when he alleged that he was invited to orgies where people snorted cocaine. Cawthorn was also caught twice with guns at airport checkpoints. Then there were the videos that showed Cawthorn in sexually suggestive poses.
“It is time for the NC-11 GOP to rally behind the Republican ticket to defeat the Democrats’ nominee this November”, Cawthorne wrote in a social media post on Tuesday while conceding the North Carolina primary polls.
Cawthorne, currently one of the 13 US Representatives from North Carolina, joined the lower legislative house as the youngest member of Congress in 2020. He is now 26 years old.
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Cawthorne currently occupies the 11th Congressional district of North Carolina, which is considered to be a Republican stronghold. It was previously headed by Mark Meadows, who is Donald Trump’s former Chief of Staff.
US Representative Ted Budd, meanwhile, secured the Republican party’s nomination for the US Senate seat in the upcoming midterms. After Senator Richard Burr announced his retirement, GOP hopefuls were seen flocking for the crucial legislative portfolio of North Carolina.
