Former North Carolina congressman Madison Cawthorn announced Wednesday that he will seek to succeed U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds in Florida’s 19th Congressional District.
Cawthorn, 30, launched his campaign with an online video. He described the district, which includes Fort Myers, Naples, and Cape Coral, as “the heart of the MAGA movement” and pledged to back President Donald Trump’s agenda in Washington.
“I’ve never backed down from a fight, and I won’t start now. I’ll stand with President Trump, crush the woke Left, deport illegals, and help fix Florida’s broken insurance system,” Cawthorn said in a post on X.
Rep. Donalds is leaving the seat to run for governor in 2026, setting up a Republican primary. Several candidates have already entered the race, including former New York Rep. Chris Collins, former Illinois state Sen. Jim Oberweis, Marine veteran Mike Pedersen, and broadcaster Jim Schwartzel. Democrat Howard Sapp is also running.
Cawthorn said he has lived in Cape Coral since 2023 and cited his involvement in local recovery efforts following Hurricane Ian. He previously represented North Carolina’s 11th District for one term before losing a Republican primary in 2022.
Florida’s primary election is set for Aug. 18, 2026, with the general election scheduled for Nov. 3. Given the district’s Republican tilt, the GOP nominee will be strongly favored to hold the seat.