Madison Cawthorn, a rising Republican star, was elected the youngest member of Congress and celebrated with the tweet 'Cry more, lib'

Sophia AnkelNov 4, 2020, 21:23 IST

Madison Cawthorn, Republican nominee for North Carolina's 11th Congressional District, speaks during the largely virtual 2020 Republican National Convention broadcast from Washington, on August 26, 2020.2020 Republican National Convention/Handout via Reuters

Madison Cawthorn, 25, will become the youngest member of Congress after winning his House race in North Carolina on Tuesday.
The 25-year-old Republican is pro-Trump, pro-Life, and pro-Second Amendment and is a rising star in the GOP.
Since his primary win earlier this year, Cawthorn has attracted scrutiny over his ties to the far-right as well as alleged sexual misconduct.
Scroll down to find out more about Cawthorn's life.

At the age of 25, Madison Cawthorn will become the youngest member of Congress after winning his House race in North Carolina on Tuesday.

As a millennial who is pro-Trump, pro-Life, and pro-Second Amendment, Cawthorn has presented himself as a fresh face who could bring a new generational perspective to the Republican Party.

Despite his young age, Cawthorn's biography is packed with tragedy and drama, including a horrific car accident six years ago left him partially paralyzed.

Since his surprise primary win earlier this year, Cawthorn has drawn some scrutiny over ties to the far-right as well as alleged sexual misconduct.

Scroll down to find out more about him.

At the age of 25, Madison Cawthorn will become the youngest member of Congress after winning his House race in North Carolina on Tuesday.

North Carolina Republican congressional candidate Madison Cawthorn speaks during his campaign video, posted on January 16, 2020. Screenshot via Madison Cawthorn/YouTube

Cawthorn defeated Democrat Moe Davis, a 62-year-old retired Air Force colonel, in the state's 11th Congressional District.

Cawthorn just turned 25 — the minimum age to serve in the House — in August.

He is not only the youngest Republican ever elected to Congress but also the youngest person of any party elected to win a seat in more than 50 years.

Source: Business Insider

Cawthorn defeated Democrat Moe Davis, a 62-year-old retired Air Force colonel, in the state's 11th Congressional District.

Cawthorn just turned 25 — the minimum age to serve in the House — in August.

He is not only the youngest Republican ever elected to Congress but also the youngest person of any party elected to win a seat in more than 50 years.

Source: Business Insider

The 25-year-old Republican is pro-Trump, pro-Life, and pro-Second Amendment and has been tagged as a rising star in the GOP, earning a primetime speaking slot at the Republican National Convention in August.

Madison Cawthorn gives a speech during the 2020 Republican National Convention on August 26, 2020. Courtesy of the Committee on Arrangements for the 2020 Republican National Committee via Getty Images

Cawthorn has positioned himself as a bridge between the GOP's leadership and millennial and Generation Z Republicans.

Source: Business Insider

The 25-year-old Republican is pro-Trump, pro-Life, and pro-Second Amendment and has been tagged as a rising star in the GOP, earning a primetime speaking slot at the Republican National Convention in August.

Cawthorn has positioned himself as a bridge between the GOP's leadership and millennial and Generation Z Republicans.

Source: Business Insider

Cawthorne was home-schooled in Hendersonville, North Carolina. He had planned to serve the Navy, receiving a nomination to the United States Naval Academy in 2014 by US Representative Mark Meadows.

Madison Cawthorn in front of the Henderson County Courthouse in his campaign video posted on January 16, 2020. Madison Cawthorn Campaign/YouTube

Source: ABC News

Cawthorne was home-schooled in Hendersonville, North Carolina. He had planned to serve the Navy, receiving a nomination to the United States Naval Academy in 2014 by US Representative Mark Meadows.

Source: ABC News

However, that year, Cawthorn was involved in a nearly fatal car accident returning from a spring break trip in Florida with his friends.

Cawthorn's friend fell asleep while driving their SUV and it crashed into a concrete barrier and burst into flames. The injuries left Cawthorn partially paralyzed, and he now uses a wheelchair.

Madison Cawthorn speaks during the largely virtual 2020 Republican National Convention broadcast from Washington, on August 26, 2020. 2020 Republican National Convention/Handout via Reuters

Cawthorn accrued $3 million in medical debt during his recovery.

Source: Madison Cawthorn Campaign

Cawthorn's friend fell asleep while driving their SUV and it crashed into a concrete barrier and burst into flames. The injuries left Cawthorn partially paralyzed, and he now uses a wheelchair.

Cawthorn accrued $3 million in medical debt during his recovery.

Source: Madison Cawthorn Campaign

During his campaign, Cawthorn repeatedly claimed that his dreams of attending the United States Naval Academy had been "derailed" by the accident.

However, a local news report in August found that the Naval academy had actually rejected him before the life-changing crash.

Cawthorn became an investor and motivational speaker, quickly gaining a massive following on social media.

In June 2020, Cawthorn made national headlines when he defeated realtor Lynda Bennett by over 30 points in the Republican primary. Bennett had been endorsed by President Trump and Cawthorn's mentor, Mark Meadows.

Earlier this year, Cawthorn was probed over old social media posts in which he referred to Hitler as "the Fuhrer" and said that visiting Hitler's vacation home in Germany had been on his "bucket list," and that it "did not disappoint."

In August, several women came forward accusing Cawthorn of sexual misconduct and sexual assault. One of these women claimed the 25-year-old pressured her into sitting on his lap before he tried to kiss her forcefully.

In this photo provided by Cawthorn campaign staffer Patrick Sebastian, Madison Cawthorn speaks to supporters on June 23, 2020, in Hendersonville, North Carolina. Associated Press

Source: Ashville Citizen Times

In August, several women came forward accusing Cawthorn of sexual misconduct and sexual assault. One of these women claimed the 25-year-old pressured her into sitting on his lap before he tried to kiss her forcefully.

Source: Ashville Citizen Times

Several months later a group of alumni of the Patrick Henry College — where Cawthorn studied briefly in 2016 — released a public letter, accusing him of engaging in "sexually predatory behavior."

Last month, Cawthorn made the news again after he admitted that he created a website attacking a journalist for working "for nonwhite males, like Cory Booker, who aims to ruin white males running for office."

Cory Booker greets supporters at Mother Emanuel AME Church Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2019, in Charleston, South Carolina. AP Photo/Mic Smith

In an archived version of the website, which was first reported on by The Bulwark, Cawthorn went after journalist Tom Fiedler, who has been covering the campaign for a nonprofit website.

"Tom Fieldler [sic.] who works with Moe Davis' advocates, is working to tear down Madison Cawthorn," the archived version reads. "He quit his academia job in Boston to work for non-white males, like Cory Booker, who aims to ruin white males running for office."

"The syntax of our language was unclear and unfairly implied I was criticizing Cory Booker," Cawthorn said in a statement to The New York Times.

Source: Business Insider

Last month, Cawthorn made the news again after he admitted that he created a website attacking a journalist for working "for nonwhite males, like Cory Booker, who aims to ruin white males running for office."

In an archived version of the website, which was first reported on by The Bulwark, Cawthorn went after journalist Tom Fiedler, who has been covering the campaign for a nonprofit website.

Tom Fieldler [sic.] who works with Moe Davis' advocates, is working to tear down Madison Cawthorn, the archived version reads. He quit his academia job in Boston to work for non-white males, like Cory Booker, who aims to ruin white males running for office.

The syntax of our language was unclear and unfairly implied I was criticizing Cory Booker, Cawthorn said in a statement to The New York Times.

Source: Business Insider

Once sworn in on January 6, Cawthorn will be the youngest member of Congress — younger than 31-year-old Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who previously held that title.

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Democrat of New York, speaks during a press conference outside the US Capitol in Washington, DC, on February 7, 2019. SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images

Once sworn in on January 6, Cawthorn will be the youngest member of Congress — younger than 31-year-old Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who previously held that title.

Reacting to his historical victory, Madison Cawthorn tweeted: "Cry more, lib."

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Madison Cawthorn, a rising Republican star, was elected the youngest member of Congress and celebrated with the tweet 'Cry more, lib'

At the age of 25, Madison Cawthorn will become the youngest member of Congress after winning his House race in North Carolina on Tuesday.

The 25-year-old Republican is pro-Trump, pro-Life, and pro-Second Amendment and has been tagged as a rising star in the GOP, earning a primetime speaking slot at the Republican National Convention in August.

Cawthorne was home-schooled in Hendersonville, North Carolina. He had planned to serve the Navy, receiving a nomination to the United States Naval Academy in 2014 by US Representative Mark Meadows.

However, that year, Cawthorn was involved in a nearly fatal car accident returning from a spring break trip in Florida with his friends.

Cawthorn's friend fell asleep while driving their SUV and it crashed into a concrete barrier and burst into flames. The injuries left Cawthorn partially paralyzed, and he now uses a wheelchair.

During his campaign, Cawthorn repeatedly claimed that his dreams of attending the United States Naval Academy had been "derailed" by the accident.

However, a local news report in August found that the Naval academy had actually rejected him before the life-changing crash.

Cawthorn became an investor and motivational speaker, quickly gaining a massive following on social media.

In June 2020, Cawthorn made national headlines when he defeated realtor Lynda Bennett by over 30 points in the Republican primary. Bennett had been endorsed by President Trump and Cawthorn's mentor, Mark Meadows.

Earlier this year, Cawthorn was probed over old social media posts in which he referred to Hitler as "the Fuhrer" and said that visiting Hitler's vacation home in Germany had been on his "bucket list," and that it "did not disappoint."

In August, several women came forward accusing Cawthorn of sexual misconduct and sexual assault. One of these women claimed the 25-year-old pressured her into sitting on his lap before he tried to kiss her forcefully.

Several months later a group of alumni of the Patrick Henry College — where Cawthorn studied briefly in 2016 — released a public letter, accusing him of engaging in "sexually predatory behavior."

Last month, Cawthorn made the news again after he admitted that he created a website attacking a journalist for working "for nonwhite males, like Cory Booker, who aims to ruin white males running for office."

Once sworn in on January 6, Cawthorn will be the youngest member of Congress — younger than 31-year-old Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who previously held that title.

Reacting to his historical victory, Madison Cawthorn tweeted: "Cry more, lib."