Cawthorn is pro-Trump, anti-abortion-rights, and pro-Second Amendment and has been tagged as a rising star in the GOP. He had a primetime speaking slot at the Republican National Convention in August.
Cawthorn gives a speech during the Republican National Convention on August 26.
Courtesy of the Committee on Arrangements for the 2020 Republican National Committee via Getty Images
Cawthorn was homeschooled in Hendersonville, North Carolina. He had planned to serve in the Navy and was nominated to the United States Naval Academy in 2014 by Rep. Mark Meadows.
Cawthorn in front of the Henderson County Courthouse.
Madison Cawthorn Campaign/YouTube
Cawthorn's friend fell asleep while driving an SUV and crashed into a concrete barrier, causing the SUV to burst into flames. The injuries left Cawthorn partially paralyzed, and he now uses a wheelchair.
Cawthorn at the RNC.
2020 Republican National Convention/Handout via Reuters
Cawthorn accrued $3 million in medical debt during his recovery.
A post shared by Madison Cawthorn (@madisoncawthorn) on Oct 21, 2015 at 4:20pm PDT
"I never said I was appointed or accepted to the academy, I knew that I'd only been nominated at that point," Cawthorn told ABC 13 News.
"I fully expected to be accepted and to be appointed, but at that point I hadn't received it," he added. "So I've been very careful never to mischaracterize who I am as a person."
Cawthorn became an investor and motivational speaker, quickly gaining a massive following on social media.
In June, Cawthorn made headlines when he defeated Lynda Bennett, who had been endorsed by President Donald Trump, by over 30 points in the Republican primary.
A post shared by Madison Cawthorn (@madisoncawthorn) on Jul 23, 2020 at 1:52pm PDT
Earlier this year, Cawthorn was scrutinized over old posts on social media 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 "did not disappoint."
In August, several women came forward to accuse Cawthorn of sexual misconduct and sexual assault. One woman accused Cawthorn of pressuring her into sitting on his lap before trying to kiss her forcefully.
Cawthorn speaks to supporters alongside his fiancée, Cristina Bayardelle, on June 23 in Hendersonville.
Associated Press
In October, alumni of Patrick Henry College, where Cawthorn studied briefly in 2016, published a letter accusing him of engaging in "predatory behavior."
Last month, Cawthorn admitted that he created a website attacking a journalist for working "for non-white males, like Cory Booker, who aims to ruin white males running for office."
Sen. Cory Booker greeting supporters in Charleston, South Carolina.
AP Photo/Mic Smith
Fiedler, "who works with Moe Davis' advocates, is working to tear down Madison Cawthorn," the archived version says. "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 told The New York Times.
Once sworn in on January 6, Cawthorn will be the youngest member of Congress — younger than Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, 31, who previously held that title.
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez at a press conference on February 7, 2019.
SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images
Reacting to his historic victory on Tuesday, Cawthorn tweeted, "Cry more, lib."
