Former Republican congressman Madison Cawthorn was arrested early Wednesday at his Cape Coral, Florida, home after failing to appear at a scheduled court hearing stemming from an Aug. 19 traffic stop in Naples, court records and local authorities said.
Lee County deputies took Cawthorn into custody after an out-of-county warrant was issued when he missed an 8:30 a.m. hearing in Collier County, according to the Collier County Clerk of Courts. He was booked and released on a $2,000 bond within hours. The citation in the Naples stop was for driving without a valid license.
Cawthorn, 28, confirmed that deputies knocked on his door and arrested him at his home. His campaign team described the arrest as a clerical mishap and said it did not indicate any broader legal problem.
The arrest came as Cawthorn has been laying groundwork for a return to national politics. Less than 24 hours earlier, Axios reported, he met with Republican lawmakers on Capitol Hill to discuss a possible run for Congress from his new home state. He is privately considering a bid in Florida's 19th Congressional District, a deep-red seat that will be open when Rep. Byron Donalds vacates it to run for governor.
Cawthorn rose to national prominence in 2020 when he was elected at age 25, becoming the youngest member of Congress in more than two centuries. He represented North Carolina's 11th District for a single term before a series of personal controversies and clashes with party leaders contributed to his 2022 defeat by Republican Chuck Edwards. After leaving office he relocated to Florida and largely retreated from the national spotlight until recent reports of a contemplated comeback.
His move to Florida and the open seat in the 19th District have prompted interest from multiple Republicans. Five GOP candidates have already filed paperwork to run in the district, which includes parts of southwest Florida such as Fort Myers and Naples, and party operatives expect a crowded primary.
Some Republicans view Cawthorn as a wildcard who could quickly draw attention and donors, given his national profile and a loyal base among some MAGA-aligned voters. At the same time, members of House Republican leadership have raised private concerns about his past tensions with party figures and his tendency to attract controversy, which aides say could complicate broader strategy in a narrowly divided House. One lawmaker said Cawthorn did not meet with House Speaker Mike Johnson during the recent Hill visit.
Cawthorn's entanglements with Florida authorities are not new. In 2024 he was involved in a collision on Alligator Alley in Collier County that resulted in his vehicle striking the rear of a Florida Highway Patrol vehicle; that incident received media attention but did not produce serious charges.
Campaign activity and public interest in the 19th District are likely to increase as the governor's race and congressional filings progress. Republican operatives in Florida and Washington are monitoring potential candidates, donors and endorsements to shape the field for the open seat.
Authorities in Collier and Lee counties have not indicated any additional charges beyond the warrant for failure to appear tied to the driving-without-license citation. Cawthorn's team said they expect the matter to be resolved and reiterated his intent to pursue political opportunities in Florida.
The arrest adds a high-profile episode to Cawthorn's efforts to re-enter electoral politics and underscores the scrutiny that will accompany any bid for federal office in a competitive and closely watched GOP primary.