UPDATE [04/05/23, 10:47 a.m. EST]:
Cotham announced in a Wednesday morning press conference she is switching parties. She will become a Republican. As The Hill notes, this has “massive implications for politics in the state.”
She said, “The party wants to villainize anyone who has free thought, free judgment, has solutions and wants to get to work to better our state. Not just sit in a meeting and have a workshop after a workshop, but really work with individuals to get things done.”
North Carolina state Rep. Tricia Cotham, a Democrat from Charlotte, is expected to change her political party, according to a report.
Axios reported on Cotham’s move to become a Republican Tuesday, citing several Republicans with knowledge of the conversations.
The outlet noted Cotham’s decision would grant Republicans a veto-proof majority in the legislature.
A Republican House member told Axios Republicans have expressed their hopes that Cotham would switch parties during this legislative session.
However, the idea appeared to be more realistic this past week, per the Republican.
According to the report, it is expected Cotham will make an announcement on the matter Wednesday.
House Minority Leader Robert Reives commented on Cotham’s expected decision, calling for her resignation, per The News & Observer.
“That is not the person that was presented to the voters of House District 112. That is not the person those constituents campaigned for in a hard primary, and who they championed in a general election in a 60% Democratic district,” Reives said.
He added, “Those constituents deserved to know what values were most important to their elected representative.”
The statement continues, “Because of that, the appropriate action is for her to resign so that her constituents are fairly represented in the North Carolina House of Representatives.”
Rep. Cecil Brockman, a Guilford Democrat, suggested to the outlet Democrats have themselves to blame for the switch.
“I think she just wanted to do what’s best for her district and when you’re constantly talked about and trashed — especially the way that we have been over the past few weeks — I think this is what happens,” Brockman said.
He suggested the “(Democratic) party takes a strong look at how they react to people making the decisions that they make — they put themselves in this position.”
Democratic Sen. Natasha Marcus of Mecklenburg shared her thought on the matter in a tweet.
“If candidate Tricia Cotham had been honest before the election, she would not have won her seat. The people of her district do not support the extreme rightwing policies that the NCGOP is shoving down our throats, now with her help,” Marcus tweeted.
If candidate Tricia Cotham had been honest before the election, she would not have won her seat. The people of her district do not support the extreme rightwing policies that the NCGOP is shoving down our throats, now with her help. This is dishonest and undemocratic. #ncpol https://t.co/v1Em1CO2Fw
— Senator Natasha Marcus (@NatashaMarcusNC) April 4, 2023
She added, “This is dishonest and undemocratic.”
