Trump-backed Rep. Madison Cawthorn concedes North Carolina GOP major

Rep. Madison Cawthorn speaks earlier than a rally for former U.S. President Donald Trump at The Farm at 95 on April 9, 2022 in Selma, North Carolina.

Allison Joyce | Getty Images

Rep. Madison Cawthorn, the scandal-prone freshman lawmaker backed by former President Donald Trump, conceded defeat in his Republican main election on Tuesday night time.

Cawthorn called state Sen. Chuck Edwards to concede the race, the congressman's spokesman advised reporters. Edwards had been endorsed by U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C.

NBC Information projected Edwards as the first winner in the state's eleventh Congressional District on Tuesday night. He led the race with more than 33% of the vote, compared with roughly 32% for Cawthorn.

"Congratulations to @ChuckEdwards4NC on securing the nomination tonight," Cawthorn said in a tweet. "It is time for the NC-11 GOP to rally behind the Republican ticket to defeat the Democrats' nominee this November."

North Carolina voters on Tuesday had already decided who will compete in one among this yr's essential U.S. Senate races: Rep. Ted Budd will win the Republican Senate major in the race to fill the seat of retiring GOP Sen. Richard Burr, NBC projected.

Budd is backed both by Trump and the influential conservative group Membership for Development. He'll face off within the normal election against Cheri Beasley, former chief justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court docket, who NBC projected would handily clinch the Democratic nomination.

The swing-state contest is certainly one of a handful that will determine whether or not Democrats hold their majority within the Senate cut up 50-50 by party. Vice President Kamala Harris holds a tiebreaking vote for Democrats.

Cawthorn is considered one of 13 U.S. House members from North Carolina. Now 26 years old, Cawthorn was the youngest member of Congress when he was elected in 2020. His seat, which was previously held by ex-Trump chief of employees Mark Meadows, is a safe Republican district.

Nonetheless, the first-term lawmaker's reelection bid turned one of the state's most-watched major races, due to a wide range of scandals and missteps that spurred harsh criticism — even from some Republicans.

The controversies swirling around Cawthorn include: making claims about other lawmakers doing illicit drugs and welcoming him to orgies; driving with a revoked license; bringing a loaded handgun to an airport; being eyed by ethics watchdogs over suspicions about possible insider buying and selling related to a meme cryptocurrency; calling Ukraine's president a "thug" amid an invasion by Russia; and others.

Tillis came out swinging in opposition to Cawthorn. He endorsed Edwards, a high rival in the GOP major. A political motion committee affiliated with Tillis reportedly spent greater than $300,000 on adverts attacking Cawthorn. And after the watchdogs raised concerns of doable insider trading, Tillis overtly called for a congressional ethics investigation into Cawthorn.

Trump, meanwhile, defended Cawthorn in a social media submit over the weekend.

"Not too long ago, he made some foolish errors, which I don't imagine he'll make once more," Trump said of Cawthorn, including, "Let's give Madison a second chance!"

Requested by NBC News about Trump's publish, Tillis replied, "Technically, that is the sixth or seventh chance."

"He hasn't realized from a mistake he's made over the past yr," the senator stated of Cawthorn.