Republicans in the US state of North Carolina have voted to end controversial Congressman Madison Cawthorn’s time in office after less than two years after a string of self-inflicted scandals that turned party leaders against him.
A nude video, claims he was invited to a party involving drugs and sex, two attempts to carry a gun on to a plane and calling Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy a “thug” in the midst of a Russian invasion turned colleagues against the 26-year-old, the youngest member of Congress.
A last-minute plea by former president Donald Trump to give the first-term congressman “a second chance” was not enough to hold off a challenge by state Senator Chuck Edwards, 61.
Mr Edwards won 33.4 per cent of the vote to Mr Cawthorn’s 31.9 per cent, according to Edison Research. Mr Cawthorn congratulated his victor on Twitter and urged the party to unite behind him. His spokesman, Luke Ball, said Mr Cawthorn had called Mr Edwards to concede defeat.
“The establishment Republicans in North Carolina are embarrassed by Madison Cawthorn,” Chris Cooper, a political science professor at Western Carolina University, told Reuters.
His antics motivated a Republican super Political Action Committee, or PAC, in the state to rally around Mr Edwards, who eked out a win on Tuesday with enough of the vote to avoid a run-off.
“I just see a lack of judgment,” said Republican US Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina.
He said Mr Cawthorn had not demonstrated a serious interest in serving as a legislator even when parts of the state were flooded.
“It just makes me wonder how focused he is on serving the people of his district, versus focused on increasing his political stature. I have no patience for anybody who’s got a focus on the latter,” Mr Tillis said.
“On any given day he’s an embarrassment,” retiring Republican US senator Richard Burr of North Carolina said before the primary.
Mr Cawthorn was seen as a rising star of the Republican Party after the political newcomer defeated a Trump-endorsed candidate in 2020.
This time, Mr Cawthorn had Trump’s endorsement. On Monday, the day before the primary, the former president pleaded on his behalf.
“When Madison was first elected to Congress, he did a great job. Recently, he made some foolish mistakes, which I don’t believe he’ll make again ... let’s give Madison a second chance,” the former president said in a post on the Truth Social media platform.
Mr Cawthorn saw his lead in opinion polls collapse over the past two months, amid a barrage of attacks from two super Pacs with backing from Republicans and Democrats.
In the closing days of the primary race, Results for NC Inc, which has supported Mr Tillis, ran a 30-second advert accusing Mr Cawthorn of being a reckless playboy out to slash spending on Social Security and Medicare.
Mr Edwards, a local businessman who is promoting an “America First” agenda, is now likely to win in the heavily Republican district in the November 8 election.
- With Reuters
Who's who in Yemen conflict
Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government
Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south
Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory
Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
WHY%20AAYAN%20IS%20'PERFECT%20EXAMPLE'
%3Cp%3EDavid%20White%20might%20be%20new%20to%20the%20country%2C%20but%20he%20has%20clearly%20already%20built%20up%20an%20affinity%20with%20the%20place.%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3EAfter%20the%20UAE%20shocked%20Pakistan%20in%20the%20semi-final%20of%20the%20Under%2019%20Asia%20Cup%20last%20month%2C%20White%20was%20hugged%20on%20the%20field%20by%20Aayan%20Khan%2C%20the%20team%E2%80%99s%20captain.%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3EWhite%20suggests%20that%20was%20more%20a%20sign%20of%20Aayan%E2%80%99s%20amiability%20than%20anything%20else.%20But%20he%20believes%20the%20young%20all-rounder%2C%20who%20was%20part%20of%20the%20winning%20Gulf%20Giants%20team%20last%20year%2C%20is%20just%20the%20sort%20of%20player%20the%20country%20should%20be%20seeking%20to%20produce%20via%20the%20ILT20.%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%E2%80%9CHe%20is%20a%20delightful%20young%20man%2C%E2%80%9D%20White%20said.%20%E2%80%9CHe%20played%20in%20the%20competition%20last%20year%20at%2017%2C%20and%20look%20at%20his%20development%20from%20there%20till%20now%2C%20and%20where%20he%20is%20representing%20the%20UAE.%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%E2%80%9CHe%20was%20influential%20in%20the%20U19%20team%20which%20beat%20Pakistan.%20He%20is%20the%20perfect%20example%20of%20what%20we%20are%20all%20trying%20to%20achieve%20here.%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%E2%80%9CIt%20is%20about%20the%20development%20of%20players%20who%20are%20going%20to%20represent%20the%20UAE%20and%20go%20on%20to%20help%20make%20UAE%20a%20force%20in%20world%20cricket.%E2%80%9D%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The Outsider
Stephen King, Penguin
Read more about the coronavirus
Electric scooters: some rules to remember
- Riders must be 14-years-old or over
- Wear a protective helmet
- Park the electric scooter in designated parking lots (if any)
- Do not leave electric scooter in locations that obstruct traffic or pedestrians
- Solo riders only, no passengers allowed
- Do not drive outside designated lanes
Scores
Day 2
New Zealand 153 & 56-1
Pakistan 227
New Zealand trail by 18 runs with nine wickets remaining
