Trump-endorsed Madison Cawthorn loses reelection bid for NC 11th congressional district

HENDERSONVILLE - Rep. Madison Cawthorn, a Donald Trump-endorsed candidate, has lost his reelection bid for Western North Carolina's congressional district.

Cawthorn called and conceded to state Sen. Chuck Edwards shortly before 10:20 p.m. May 17, according to Cawthorn's spokesperson Luke Ball. He did not speak publicly about the concession. Ball made the statement at campaign headquarters, saying Cawthorn anticipated other Republicans backing the state senator and would focus now on helping Edwards "keep N.C. 11 red."

Edwards, who had not appeared most of the night at a May 17 campaign event, came out after the phone call with Cawthorn.

He said his primary win was "a sign that we have not given up."

"And we are more determined than ever to take control of our own destiny and send someone to Washington, D.C., that is one of us and reject the real establishment in D.C. and career politicians that have lost track of people like us.”

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He will now face Democrat Jasmine Beach-Ferrara in the general election for the state's most western district.

Cawthorn's admission of defeat came after more than 80% of the vote was counted. Edwards had led from the start of vote tallies in, though his margin shrank as the night progressed. After 11 p.m. with 99.9% of precincts reporting, Edwards had 33.4% of the vote to Cawthorn's 31.0%.

The next highest vote getter in the eight-way primary was was Matthew Burril with 9.5%.

Speaking to supporters and the media earlier in the night, Cawthorn said he still anticipated winning. He said those releasing scandalous news about him were part of a "coordinated strike carried out by the old establishment wing of our party."

On Trump's endorsement, he said others turned their backs "in a heartbeat" when they found offering support wasn't politically expedient.

"But no matter what you are facing, when Donald Trump has your back, he has your back to the end."

The congressman had garnered the official endorsement of the former president the day before the primary with Trump saying the 26-year-old first-term representative deserved another two years despite "foolish mistakes."

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Cawthorn was beset with scandals and problems that began as a candidate before his first election.

Recently those have included a criminal misdemeanor charge for bringing a loaded gun through an airport checkpoint in Charlotte.

Prior to that, a video was released that appeared to show Cawthorn naked in bed with another man, thrusting his pelvis. He described his actions as "crass" and trying to be funny with a friend.

He is also facing another misdemeanor charge after a member of the North Carolina Highway Patrol said he was driving March 3 with a revoked license in Cleveland County.

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Western Carolina University political science professor Chris Cooper said the race appeared to hinge on voters inside the area Edward's represented in the General Assembly.

"Madison Cawthorn's political career burned hot, but came to a quick end," Cooper said. "Edwards only won three counties -- Buncombe Henderson, and Transylvania -- all of which he represented in the NC Senate."

Early voting results also showed unaffiliated voters, who by state law can pick a primary in which to vote, played a big role.

South Asheville resident Kathie Swearingen, 73, said the congressional primary was her main motivation for voting. A registered Republican, she said she leans liberal on some issues such as abortion.

Swearingen, a retired social worker, said she had "such high hopes" for Cawthorn when he was elected, though she declined to use his name, calling him the "current office holder." Scandals and what she said were his obvious lies changed her mind, she said.

“In these times, we just need someone with a little more life experience,” she said.

“To be perfectly honest, I cannot tell you the name of the person I voted for. It was more voting against someone. I think when the ballots are counted, it will be obvious.”

But Frank Burdette, a supporter and friend of Cawthorn attending a primary night campaign event, said mistakes that he made were "youthful stupidity."

"I've had it. We all have had things like that. But I see him building upon what he stands for and his base of constituents," Burdette said.

He called Cawthorn's GOP opponents, primary challenger state Sen. Chuck Edwards and critics U.S. Sens. Thom Tillis and Richard Burr "RINOs," an acronym for Republicans in Name Only. Rather than railing against Cawthorn for mistakes they should have reached out to mentor him, he said.

"If you want to be conservative Republican you look at Madison. You don't look at Chuck Edwards."

Results

Chuck Edwards: 29,411 33.40%

Madison Cawthorn: 28,092 31.90%

Matthew Burril: 8,314 9.44%

Bruce O'Connell: 6,031 6.85%

Rod Honeycutt: 5,752 6.53%

Michele V. Woodhouse: 4,663 5.30%

Wendy Marie-Limbaugh Nevarez: 4,491 5.10%

Kristie Sluder: 1,305 1.48%

Reporter John Boyle contributed to this story.

Joel Burgess has lived in WNC for more than 20 years, covering politics, government and other news. He's written award-winning stories on topics ranging from gerrymandering to police use of force. Got a tip? Contact Burgess at jburgess@citizentimes.com, 828-713-1095 or on Twitter @AVLreporter. Please help support this type of journalism with a subscription to the Citizen Times.

This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Madison Cawthorn loses reelection bid for WNC's congressional district