In North Carolina, controversial first-term Congressman Madison Cawthorn (R) now has a Democratic challenger. Cawthorn’s controversies range from allegations against him of sexual harassment to his participation in the January 6 rally in D.C. that spilled over into deadly rioting at the U.S. Capitol. Now, Buncombe County Commissioner Jasmine Beach-Ferrara has formally launched her campaign to unseat the prominent Trump ally.
In her announcement video, she said as follows:
‘Some people will say a gay woman who’s a Christian minister just can’t get elected in the South, not to mention she’s a Democrat. But I say, an insurrectionist who flirts with Nazis and fires up a violent crowd to attack our democracy — well, he shouldn’t get reelected anywhere. My name’s Jasmine Beach-Ferrara, and the truth is, I’ve already been elected in North Carolina, twice… Like a lot of folks in western North Carolina, I know what it’s like to be under-estimated and then to beat the odds.’
She then discussed her advocacy on behalf of marriage equality for the LGBTQ community and her ordination as a minister, adding as follows:
‘Right now, it can feel like the world is pulling us apart: a deadly virus keeping us separate and political divisions that feel impossible to bridge, and yeah, we need a really big bridge, but I’ve seen what’s possible when we make room at the table for everyone. That’s why I choose to keep an open heart and keep pushing for progress rather than backing down. So with all due respect to the skeptics, this barbeque-loving, football-watching, proud Southern mom of three is running for Congress. And you better believe I’m running to win.’
Watch below:
I’m Democrat Jasmine Beach-Ferrara and I’m running against Madison Cawthorn. As a gay woman, Christian minister, mom of 3, I’ve heard “you can’t” all my life. I’m ready to prove the skeptics wrong again. Please retweet and ask everyone you know to follow this account to join us. pic.twitter.com/dJroXf3bWf
— Jasmine Beach-Ferrara (@jbeachferrara) March 3, 2021
Not unlike certain fellow first-term members, Cawthorn doesn’t exactly seem to have a firm grasp of the responsibilities of a U.S. Congressperson. During a recent interview, he commented as follows:
‘You think of a Harry Potter or a Gandalf in one of these great works of fiction. They’re handed a wand. And you as the viewer, you don’t exactly know what they can do with that wand, but you know it holds incredible power. That’s a lot what it’s like coming into Congress, because there’s really no limitations onto what you can and cannot do in Congress. Aside from what the Supreme Court will allow you to do.’
To say that there are “really no limitations” on what members of Congress can do is… wow. Does this guy have any idea what he’s doing, at all?
Beach-Ferrara is one of a handful of Democrats who’ve announced challenges to controversial first-term members of Congress. Just in recent days, veteran Marcus Flowers announced a campaign to unseat Marjorie Taylor Greene in Georgia.
It’s official! I’m running for Congress against Marjorie Taylor Greene.
I've spent my entire career defending the United States and I promise to bring honor, integrity and decency to Congress.
Check out our launch video and donate here: https://t.co/2mMa2CCho1 pic.twitter.com/ngsDFSv65A
— Marcus Flowers (@Marcus4Georgia) March 1, 2021
