Cawthorn to seek re-election in new congressional district

The decision has ramifications around the state. House Speaker Tim Moore, the assumed-but-never-confirmed Republican favorite for that 13th District seat, told colleagues in the House he'll run for re-election instead, forgoing a congressional run.

Cawthorn, in his announcement video, said he was changing districts in part because he's afraid an "establishment, go-along-to-get-along Republican will prevail there" otherwise.

State lawmakers last week approved a new congressional district map to account for population changes recorded in the 2020 census and to give North Carolina a 14th seat in the U.S. House, earned through population growth over the last decade.

Under this new map, which still has to survive already filed legal challenges, Cawthorn would be in the 14th Congressional District, which includes his home of Henderson County and other mountain counties from the southwestern corner of the state north to Watauga County.

But some of Cawthorn's current district is in the newly drawn 13th District, and though both are considered safe for Republican candidates, the 13th leans more heavily Republican. It was rumored to to be drawn for Moore, R-Cleveland, and includes his home county.

But Moore has now told Republican colleagues he'll stay in the state House.

"He now believes he can best serve in NC rather than in Washington," Rep. Donny Lambeth, R-Forsyth, a House budget writer, told WRAL News in a text message Thursday night.

Moore confirmed it in a statement late Thursday, saying the "speculation about my potential candidacy has been driven by the media and political pundits." He said he considered a run for Congress but was looking forward to staying on as speaker of the House.

The News & Observer also reported Moore was calling other House members, lining up support for the speakership.

"The speaker is being encouraged to look at Congress, but a 5th term as speaker has always been the most likely route," Rep. Destin Hall, R-Caldwell, whom Moore appointed to the powerful House Rules committee chairmanship last year, told WRAL in a text message. "I expect him to stay in the state House. He will have the clear support of the House Republican caucus."

Rep. John Bell, R-Wayne, the House majority leader and a potential candidate for speaker if Moore moved on, told WRAL that he hadn't been told the speaker would forego a congressional run and that he hadn't been asked to support him in another term as speaker.

In a video posted on Twitter, Cawthorn said the redrawn maps split his current district in half and that he lives just outside the boundaries of the 13th District. Congressional candidates don't have to live in their districts, although it's politically preferable to do so and most do.

He called the decision to switch to the 13th District "a tactical move" that would allow conservatives to expand their base in Congress.

"I have every confidence in the world that, regardless where I run, the 14th Congressional District will send a patriotic fighter to [Washington,] D.C.," he said. "But knowing the political realities of the 13th District, I'm afraid that another establishment, go-along-to-get-along Republican will prevail there. I will not let that happen."

Cawthorn first signaled the potential switch in a Wednesday night phone call with Republican leaders in the 11th District, according to Michele Woodhouse, district chair of the Republican Party.

Another Republican candidate announced a bid for the 13th District seat on Thursday: Karen Bentley, a former Mecklenburg County commissioner.