Former Rep. Madison Cawthorn (R-N.C.) announced Wednesday he’s launching a congressional bid in Florida’s 19th Congressional District. 

The former North Carolinian filed his candidacy with the Federal Election Commission on Wednesday and told Fox News Digital he was motivated to run after the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, saying he “knew there really was no option.”

“I want to make sure [the people of Florida] have amazing representation in Washington, D.C., because I know exactly what happens in the swamp,” he continued. “There’s so many people that take advantage of freshmen [members],” adding that he believes he is the “right man” for the job.

The state’s 19th District is currently represented by Rep. Byron Donalds (R), who’s running to succeed Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R). It includes Naples, Cape Coral and Fort Myers and is considered a safe Republican district. 

He previously represented North Carolina’s 11th District from 2021-23, succeeding his former boss Rep. Mark Meadows (R). He was ousted by Rep. Chuck Edwards (R) in the district’s GOP primary in 2022. 

Cawthorn has faced a series of controversies. In 2022 alone, Cawthorn was alleged to have been invited to orgies in Washington and said he saw people do cocaine, prompting a rebuke from senior House Republicans. He’s been cited for bringing a firearm to a Transportation Security Administration checkpoint in Charlotte and called Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky a “thug” and the Ukrainian government “evil” in a video. And the House Ethics Committee carried out an investigation into Cawthorn over allegations of insider trading.