Madison Cawthorn made a mess for North Carolina Republicans with his plans for 2022

In a column for the Charlotte Observer's opinion page, the editorial board scolded Rep. Madison Cawthorn (R-NC) for putting himself before his party in his home state and disrupting local Republican's plans for the 2022 midterms.

At issue was a redistricting plan that will create a Republican Party-friendly district where N.C. House Speaker Tim Moore (R) could safely run until Cawthorn decided he wants to move and run for re-election in that one.

As the editorial board notes, Cawthorn threw a wrench into their plans because he thinks only of himself and not the good of the party.

"The freshman representative from Western North Carolina thwarted Moore's plans Thursday when he announced his decision to change congressional districts. Cawthorn will run in the newly created 13th Congressional District instead of the 14th Congressional District, which state lawmakers had drawn with him as the lone incumbent," they wrote before adding Cawthorn's announcement led to Moore giving up his plans to run for the U.S. House in 2022.

According to the editorial board, Cawthorn made his announcement with a veiled jab at Moore, stating he felt an "establishment, go-along-to-get-along Republican" would run for the seat if he didn't.

Pointing out that Moore is a "stalwart conservative" who went so far as to attend the "Stop the Steal" rally on Jan 6th, the editorial board expressed dismay at the state of affairs in the Donald Trump-influenced Republican Party.

"That says a lot about what the Republican Party has become, especially here in North Carolina, where Trumpism is threatening to become the norm," they wrote. "The irony is that Moore and his fellow Republicans are the ones who got us — and themselves — here. Too many of them stood by and watched while extremists like Cawthorn lied and fear-mongered their way into power. They could have stopped it, but too often went along with it, particularly when they thought it could get them more money, more endorsements and more votes."

Turning back to Cawthorn they pointedly added, "Turns out that unconditional loyalty isn't as politically productive as Republicans thought it would be. Apparently, they've yet to learn what others have long known: people like Cawthorn aren't loyal to anyone but themselves."

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