News

Cawthorn makes it official: He's switching to newly drawn district

By Bill Moss, Published: November 12, 2021

U.S. Rep. Madison Cawthorn on Thursday made it official: He's switching from the 11th Congressional District to run in a newly drawn district that had been widely regarded as tailor-made for North Carolina House Speaker Tim Moore.

“Our state is growing and changing rapidly," Cawthorn said in a video message. "We now have a brand-new congressional district, and as it stands, the new lines have split my constituents. My house is almost directly on the line of separation for the 13th and the 14th Congressional districts, and now half of the counties in the new district are counties I currently represent. My people are split, and I am forced to make a very difficult decision. Ultimately, I have to answer this question: what choice would enable me to make the greatest impact on the affairs of our state and our nation, so that our children and grandchildren can inherit the best version of America we can possibly give them? After consulting my family, my constituents, and with prayerful consideration, the answer is clear. I will be running for Congress in the 13th congressional district."

Cawthorn's announcement triggered an immediate domino fall. Moore won't run for Congress. A close ally of Moore, House Appropriations Committee Chair Jason Saine, R-Linclonton, confirmed in a text message to the Raleigh News & Observer Thursday night that Moore instead will run for another term as House speaker.

David B. Wheeler, who leads the American Muckrakers PAC (firemadison.com), mocked Cawthorn's decision.

"Cawthorn, best known for supporting a violent insurrection against democracy on Jan. 6th and a no-show Congressman who skipped out of 22% of votes in his first year in the House of Representatives, has now chickened out of running for a second term in Western North Carolina," Wheeler said.

"After insisting he could best represent 'mountain values' and taking thousands of dollars of contributions from Western North Carolinians, Cawthorn is running away from the mountains as fast as he can to try to salvage his soiled reputation in the newly drawn 13th Congressional District that runs from Polk to Mecklenburg counties."
“We want to thank everyone who helped to convince Cawthorn not to run again in Western North Carolina. He clearly realized he was going to be beat and is high tailing it out of his home town.
“However, if Chicken Cawthorn thinks he can simply run for Congress in a new district and we’ll stand down, then he clearly doesn’t know anything about our donors or team," Wheeler continued. "We want him out of office. Our battle simply moves a little bit south and east to the 13th Congressional District. We have no intention of letting up. We will hold Chicken Cawthorn accountable until he is defeated once and for all.”

Cawthorn video

Here's the "rough transcript" of the video announcement Cawthorn's campaign provided:

"North Carolinians don’t settle for the status quo. We defy it. We made history together last year when you sent me to Washington to shake up the Swamp and fight for you. The Tarheel state put the Establishment on its heels. It’s in our blood to do tough things, to stray outside our comfort zone and guide the pen of history. We were first in flight, first in freedom, and together, we will put America First for generations to come."

"Our state is growing and changing rapidly. We now have a brand-new congressional district, and as it stands, the new lines have split my constituents. My house is almost directly on the line of separation for the 13th and the 14th Congressional districts, and now half of the counties in the new district are counties I currently represent. ...

"I believe we have a unique opportunity to increase conservative leadership from North Carolina. I have every confidence in the world that regardless of where I run, the 14th congressional district will send a patriotic fighter to DC. Knowing the political realities of the 13th district, I am afraid that another establishment go along to get along republican would prevail there. I will not let that happen. I will be running for congress in the 13th congressional district.

"Friends I want to make something extraordinarily clear: You elected a fighter, and I have fought day and night to defend our values in a town that despises principled and fearless representation. This move is not an abandonment in fact quite the opposite. It is a move to take more ground for constitutional conservatism. In my heart I represent North Carolina as a whole not some arbitrary line that some politician drew this cycle.

"This was not an easy decision. Whichever path I choose, I am losing friends, neighbors, and constituents. But this decision was not flippant or based on personal preferences in the slightest. It is a tactical move to ensure North Carolina’s conservative fighting spirit is strengthened."