Rep.-elect Madison Cawthorn seeks to fire up young people by creating ‘new Republican Party’
Rep.-elect Madison Cawthorn (R-NC) is a new breed of young politician that seeks to inspire young people and create a new Republican Party. He defeated a candidate backed by President Trump and the Washington establishment to become the youngest incoming member of Congress at age 25. He is a strong supporter of the President and he’s also a constitutionalist.
Cawthorn is intent on shaking up the Republican Party through new messaging, new recruits, and new ways to fundraise. He promotes the Founding Fathers, the Constitution, and stands in the breach against socialism. In other words, he is the left’s worst nightmare.
“My election was really a referendum on the establishment,” Cawthorn told Fox News. “They’re really sending me up here to fight against that.”
Cawthorn owes his allegiance to no one except the American people and is very vocal about it. He’s absolutely fearless.
“I don’t owe anybody except the constituents of my district my victory,” Cawthorn said. “And so because of that, I’ll serve them no matter what. And I think that’s how it should be.”
The young firebrand is a strong voice for the next generation of conservatives and is adamant that the Republican Party must change to make inroads with young voters who think the GOP is “angry and just says ‘no.'”
“There is a generational time bomb going off in the Republican Party and that’s because they have failed to connect with this new generation,” Cawthorn said. “They’ve failed to iterate the fact that we are the party of freedom.”
Cawthorn intends to “brand a new Republican Party” that is bold and inspirational. Republicans can no longer be the party of “no” and dodge controversial issues like healthcare and the environment. Instead, the GOP should be “thought leaders” on solutions. He also believes that Republicans should be more Libertarian when it comes to social issues. Except when it comes to abortion, which requires “very loud” opposition, he said.
“I really want the Republican Party to be bolder,” Cawthorn said. “I want us to be a big tent party that says I don’t care if you’re gay. I don’t care what your religion is. As long as you believe in freedom and believe in our founding principles, you’re welcome in our party.”
“I really want our party defined as the Freedom Party,” he added.
Not doing this to help my career in Washington, in fact this will most likely harm it. But no one should go to Washington as a career. Go there to serve the people. And on behalf of the people I am contesting this election based on constitutional violations by key states. pic.twitter.com/puDmUZAbaw
— Madison Cawthorn (@CawthornforNC) December 22, 2020
Cawthorn replaces Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, 31, as the youngest member of the House.
Cawthorn is threatening the political party structure. He’s going after the National Republican Campaign Committee (NRCC) which helps incumbent GOP reps win reelection. Cawthorn says the existence of the NRCC is one reason why “great patriots” can turn into “establishment pawns.”
“I think a lot of people are lazy, and they’re not good at fundraising, and they have to rely on these big-dollar donors to give to the NRCC and then the NRCC will come in and fund your reelection and win your race for you,” Cawthorn said. “Because of that, they’re at their beck and call.”
He’s a big supporter of term limits as well.
Our founders believed that those who submitted themselves to the authority of government ought to have a voice and a say in that same government.
It is because the voices of Americans have been deafened and diluted that I will speak out in defense of freedom on January 6th.
— Madison Cawthorn (@CawthornforNC) December 28, 2020
Cawthorn has already started recruiting 2022 congressional candidates and hopes “to create a very-well funded super PAC so other patriots won’t require the NRCC’s help.”
“We’re going to have some great patriots that are going to come up,” Cawthorn said.
He will succeed Rep. Mark Meadows (R-NC) in the 11th Congressional District that encompasses Western North Carolina.
Cawthorn says his win shows that the people are in charge and he’s beholden to no one. “If I had relied on PAC money from the establishment Republicans, or from the conservative Republicans, or from Mark Meadows or Donald Trump, I would have been beholden to them. I would have owed my seat to them.”
The right to vote in a free and fair election is the cornerstone of our Republic. Attempts to subvert the Constitutional authority of state legislatures to conduct elections strikes at the very heart of representative government. I choose to stand in the breach, to fight for us. https://t.co/qmgG8o7qtF
— Madison Cawthorn (@CawthornforNC) December 21, 2020
After Cawthorn beat Bennett in a landslide (66-34%) in the June primary, Trump congratulated the young Republican. Cawthorn got an invite to speak at Trump’s Republican National Convention where he made a strong statement by dramatically standing up out of his wheelchair.
He worked for Meadows’ congressional office after the accident that caused his paralysis on a part-time basis.
Cawthorn started his own real estate investment company. He also does motivational speaking.
After his primary victory, he went on to defeat Democrat Moe Davis on Nov. 3 by a margin of 55%-42%.
Cawthorn marked the victory by sending out a snarky message on Twitter that went viral: “cry more, lib.” He later claimed it was aimed at cancel culture.
I promise to fight for each and every member of this district, to be indebted to no one but you, and to represent your interests above all else.
I swear to defend this American dream, a dream of freedom.
This is my promise, stand with me.https://t.co/V6aIR10AGm pic.twitter.com/LK94d3Ycyx
— Madison Cawthorn (@CawthornforNC) November 23, 2020
He arrived in Washington last month for new member orientation feeling the weight of responsibility to prove himself not only to his constituents but also to the next generation of conservatives.
“I’m really kind of a representation for this Generation Z or millennial generation — the conservative side of them coming in to fight in Congress,” Cawthorn said. “And so I definitely take the responsibility very seriously and I want to make a difference.”
