Accused sexual predator Rep. Madison Cawthorn of North Carolina has barely been a member of Congress for three months and he’s already facing a historically high number of 2022 challengers.
So far, five Democrats and one Republican have revealed plans to unseat the 25-year-old Nazi enthusiast in next year’s midterm, which is still 19 months away, making it the largest challenger field any incumbent from Cawthorn’s district has ever seen at this point in an election in over 20 years.
Among those vying for his seat is Jasmine Beach-Ferrara, an openly lesbian Christian minister and mother of three who was the first Democrat to throw her hat into the ring back in early March, exactly two months after Cawthorn was sworn into office.
I’m Democrat Jasmine Beach-Ferrara and I’m running against Madison Cawthorn. As a gay woman, Christian minister, mom of 3, I’ve heard “you can’t” all my life. I’m ready to prove the skeptics wrong again. Please retweet and ask everyone you know to follow this account to join us. pic.twitter.com/dJroXf3bWf
— Jasmine Beach-Ferrara (@JBeachFerrara) March 3, 2021
Citizen Times reports:
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Democrats who will compete in their own primary for the right to face Cawthorn include two ministers: nationally prominent LGBTQ activist and Buncombe County Commissioner Jasmine Beach-Ferrara and Elementary school principal Eric Gash, a Hendersonville High School football standout and the lone Black candidate in a district that is 90% white.
Also in the primary race are two army combat veterans, Josh Remillard of Mills River and Jay Carey of Hendersonville. A fifth candidate, Katie Dean of Asheville has created a campaign committee, though has not formally announced.
Meanwhile, Wendy Nevarez, a Navy veteran, is Cawthorn’s first official Republican primary challenger, though there will likely be more announcing their candidacies in the coming months.
“It seems like every week there’s a new one,” Mike Bitzer, a professor at Catawba College, tells Citizen Times. “I think in this case, we have a controversial incumbent who generates a great deal of polarization, especially on the opposition side.”
Related: Madison Cawthorn is being dragged into Matt Gaetz’s teen sex scandal
Since January, Cawthorn has been the subject of a damning Buzzfeed report in which more than 30 of his former friends, classmates, and acquaintances accused him of sexual harassment other inappropriate behavior, as well as a Washington Post article that revealed that he lied about that 2014 car crash that left him partially paralyzed.
According to OpenSecrets.org, Cawthorn, who voted to overturn the 2020 presidential election results, has raked in $1 million in campaign contributions so far this year. That’s a lot of money. And with this many challengers this far out from the election, he’s going to need every last penny.
Graham Gremore is the Features Editor and a Staff Writer at Queerty. Follow him on Twitter @grahamgremore.
Fahd
Based on previous Queerty postings, I gather Madison has attached himself to Trump. Let’s see how that strategy does for him in the midterms.
dhmonarch89
in the ultra conservative district he lives in- it won’t hurt him at all.
Heywood Jablowme
@dhmonarch89: Yes, unfortunately, last year he defeated his heavily favored primary opponent just by being Trumpier than she was. And she was a personal friend of Mark Meadows, Trump’s chief of staff, who had this seat previously.
Cam
The fact that he has a Republican challenger is telling. It will drain his money for a primary fight.
Invader7
We all KNOW Miss Madison is reading ALL of the gay sites. He may even have personal ads posted on who knows what sites … Anyway, he’s just another white, creepy , Neo-NAZI , FASCIST , LYING , untrustworthy, low life, gop SCUM bag. Aka the perfect gop member to run for office or to try and be re-elected. Because there are just enough dim-witted moronic gop’ers who fall for ALL of the LIES and DECEPTION that is the the modern gop!!! Summed up : the gop has NO minimal barriers to entry or membership.
Low Country Boy
Well said!
MissTerri
She has a pretty mouth.
Harley
And I’m sure she uses it a lot since nothing below the belt works.
Glynn
” Harley: And I’m sure she uses it a lot since nothing below the belt works.”
Apart from her wheels!
Mister P
Tell us how you feel Invader. LOL.
rock9221
The crowded field will insure he is re-elected. No Democrat will win the district so he will continue to be the thirst boy for Nazi’s, Nuts and Trumpers. His bad example may help us in other districts.
cuteguy
He’s going to be re elected bc his district is full of white supremacists, just like for Majorie Taylor Biggot and child molest€r Matt Gaetz
8millionandcounting
Uggghhh. This guy again. Stop giving him any recognition.
He’s dumber than and about as interesting as a Q-tip.
Low Country Boy
Unfortunately, the GOP is less interested in solving the country’s problems than they are about saying the most outrageous things and getting on Fox News. I’m glad they largely don’t wear masks or plan to get the COVID shots. It’s the Universe’s way of culling the herd of negativity and ignorance.