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
Key findings of Jenkins report
- Founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hassan al Banna, "accepted the political utility of violence"
- Views of key Muslim Brotherhood ideologue, Sayyid Qutb, have “consistently been understood” as permitting “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” and “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
- Muslim Brotherhood at all levels has repeatedly defended Hamas attacks against Israel, including the use of suicide bombers and the killing of civilians.
- Laying out the report in the House of Commons, David Cameron told MPs: "The main findings of the review support the conclusion that membership of, association with, or influence by the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered as a possible indicator of extremism."
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Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Engine: 3.5-litre V6
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Power: 290hp
Torque: 340Nm
Price: Dh155,800
On sale: now
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The specs
Engine: four-litre V6 and 3.5-litre V6 twin-turbo
Transmission: six-speed and 10-speed
Power: 271 and 409 horsepower
Torque: 385 and 650Nm
Price: from Dh229,900 to Dh355,000
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Results
Stage seven
1. Tadej Pogacar (SLO) UAE Team Emirates, in 3:20:24
2. Adam Yates (GBR) Ineos Grenadiers, at 1s
3. Pello Bilbao (ESP) Bahrain-Victorious, at 5s
General Classification
1. Tadej Pogacar (SLO) UAE Team Emirates, in 25:38:16
2. Adam Yates (GBR) Ineos Grenadiers, at 22s
3. Pello Bilbao (ESP) Bahrain-Victorious, at 48s
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RESULTS
Men – semi-finals
57kg – Tak Chuen Suen (MAC) beat Phuong Xuan Nguyen (VIE) 29-28; Almaz Sarsembekov (KAZ) beat Zakaria Eljamari (UAE) by points 30-27.
67kg – Mohammed Mardi (UAE) beat Huong The Nguyen (VIE) by points 30-27; Narin Wonglakhon (THA) v Mojtaba Taravati Aram (IRI) by points 29-28.
60kg – Yerkanat Ospan (KAZ) beat Amir Hosein Kaviani (IRI) 30-27; Long Doan Nguyen (VIE) beat Ibrahim Bilal (UAE) 29-28
63.5kg – Abil Galiyev (KAZ) beat Truong Cao Phat (VIE) 30-27; Nouredine Samir (UAE) beat Norapat Khundam (THA) RSC round 3.
71kg – Shaker Al Tekreeti (IRQ) beat Fawzi Baltagi (LBN) 30-27; Amine El Moatassime (UAE) beat Man Kongsib (THA) 29-28
81kg – Ilyass Hbibali (UAE) beat Alexandr Tsarikov (KAZ) 29-28; Khaled Tarraf (LBN) beat Mustafa Al Tekreeti (IRQ) 30-27
86kg – Ali Takaloo (IRI) beat Mohammed Al Qahtani (KSA) RSC round 1; Emil Umayev (KAZ) beat Ahmad Bahman (UAE) TKO round
match info
Maratha Arabians 138-2
C Lynn 91*, A Lyth 20, B Laughlin 1-15
Team Abu Dhabi 114-3
L Wright 40*, L Malinga 0-13, M McClenaghan 1-17
Maratha Arabians won by 24 runs
WITHIN%20SAND
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Zayed Sustainability Prize
Roger Federer's 2018 record
Australian Open Champion
Rotterdam Champion
Indian Wells Runner-up
Miami Second round
Stuttgart Champion
Halle Runner-up
Wimbledon Quarter-finals
Cincinnati Runner-up
US Open Fourth round
Shanghai Semi-finals
Basel Champion
Paris Masters Semi-finals
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbo
Power: 240hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 390Nm at 3,000rpm
Transmission: eight-speed auto
Price: from Dh122,745
On sale: now
THE SPECS
Engine: 3.5-litre supercharged V6
Power: 416hp at 7,000rpm
Torque: 410Nm at 3,500rpm
Transmission: 6-speed manual
Fuel consumption: 10.2 l/100km
Price: Dh375,000
On sale: now
