Former GOP Rep. Madison Cawthorn Arrested in Florida on Traffic Warrant as He Runs for Congress
Former U.S. Rep. Madison Cawthorn was arrested in Cape Coral, Florida, on September 10, 2025, after he failed to appear in court on a routine traffic citation — legal trouble that could shadow his 2026 congressional campaign.
The Lee County Sheriff’s Office took Cawthorn into custody on an out-of-county warrant issued by Collier County after he missed a scheduled court date tied to a driving while license suspended or revoked charge. He was released later that day on a $2,000 bond.
Online court records show the underlying case began with a traffic stop in Naples, Fla., where Cawthorn was cited for driving without a valid license in August 2025. Reports indicate he has been cited for multiple traffic issues in Florida, including speeding, no proof of insurance and failing to move over, and in 2024 was involved in a crash with a Florida state trooper’s vehicle.
Related: Rep. Tony Gonzales Refuses to Resign After CNN Reveals Alleged Texts
The arrest comes as Cawthorn is seeking a political comeback. On October 1, 2025, he formally announced his bid for Congress in Florida’s 19th District, the seat being vacated by Rep. Byron Donalds, who is running for governor.
“Former Congressman Madison Cawthorn was arrested earlier today for failure to appear for a routine traffic infraction,” his campaign said in a statement, calling the missed court date a scheduling misunderstanding.
Cawthorn served a single term in the U.S. House representing North Carolina’s 11th District from 2021-2023 before losing his 2022 primary amid multiple controversies.
Legal observers say the arrest could give opponents fodder in the fiercely contested 2026 Republican primary in Florida.
Cawthorn’s campaign will have to balance addressing the legal matter while building support in a new state in the months leading up to the August 2026 primary.