Republican Madison Cawthorn, 25, becomes youngest congressman-elect

(Image credit: Courtesy of the Committee on Arrangements for the 2020 Republican National Committee via Getty Images)

published 4 November 2020

Madison Cawthorn, a 25-year-old Republican, won his U.S. House race in North Carolina's 11th Congressional District, The Associated Press and several TV networks project, making him the youngest candidate member-elected of Congress. Cawthorn defeated Democrat Moe Davis, 62, who drew on his Air Force background and Cawthorn's controversial Nazi-related social media posts to make a run in the conservative district, previously held by White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows (R). Cawthorn, who is partially paralyzed and uses a wheelchair, had a prominent speaking slot at the Republican National convention.

Once sworn in next year, Cawthorn will take the youngest-member title from Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), who is now 31. He will also be the first member of Congress born in the 1990s. Responding to his projected victory, Cawthorn tweeted: "Cry more, lib."

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Explore More

Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.