Party switcher Tricia Cotham will run for reelection to the N.C. State House

Source: WRAL

State Representative Tricia Cotham, who in April gave Republicans a supermajority in the legislature by switching parties from Democrat to Republican, will run for reelection next fall in the newly redrawn House District 105 in southern Mecklenburg County.

Cotham announced her plans on X earlier this month, writing “After our prayers and talks, I’ve decided that I will seek re-election to keep representing Mecklenburg County and I look forward to meeting the voters of HD-105.”

Cotham served as a Democrat in the State House from 2009 to 2017, and was most recently elected as a Democrat to HD-112 in 2022, a district that voted 61-38 for Biden. After her party switch, a majority of her constituents found her move to be a betrayal to voters, according to a PPP poll conducted in her district.

Cotham’s party switch allowed legislative Republicans to override a series of Governor Cooper’s vetoes and enact a sweeping abortion ban with harsh new restrictions. Cotham voted for the bill despite years of vocal support for abortion rights, including a 2015 speech where she discussed her own abortion and decried Republicans taking away women’s rights. 

Other legislative moves enabled by Cotham include restrictions on LGBTQ rights, changes to election laws, a reduction on the powers of the governor, and more money funneled to private school families. 

Given the Democratic lean of her current district, it was doubtful that Cotham could run and win again as a Republican. But with Republicans in control of redistricting before the 2024 elections, they were able to create a winding new district that snakes throughout southern Mecklenburg County and picks up as many conservative voters as possible, in an area that’s otherwise trending leftward. Cotham’s new district now favors Republicans, 52% to 45%, according to previous election data. 

While the district leans Republican, it is still competitive, and Democrats are expected to make a strong push to unseat her. 

Share:

More Posts

Las Amenazas de Tarifas de Trump y sus Consecuencias para América del Norte

Las amenazas de tarifas de Donald Trump contra Canadá y México pusieron en riesgo la economía de América del Norte. Trump ha adoptado una postura agresiva con los dos principales socios comerciales de Estados Unidos. La implementación de tarifas del 25% a todas las importaciones desde México y la mayoría de las importaciones de Canadá, junto con un impuesto menor del 10% a los productos energéticos canadienses, causó una tormenta política y económica.

“North Carolinians v Griffin”: Statewide Rallies Against Jefferson Griffin’s Power Grab

Hosted by Common Cause North Carolina, the rallies over the President’s Day holiday will give impacted voters a chance to raise their voices and condemn N.C. Appeals Court Judge Jefferson Griffin’s effort to throw out 65,500 ballots cast in the November election.

Rallies will take place in various locations including Raleigh, Hillsborough, Apex, Greensboro, Charlotte, Salisbury, Asheville, Boone, Rutherfordton, Franklin, Greenville, Elizabeth City, Nags Head, Warrenton, Fayetteville, New Bern, and more.

Trump’s federal freeze threatens disaster relief, school funding, state patrol in NC

The freeze would result in North Carolina losing billions of dollars in funding for disaster relief, public schools, and state agencies. Though the order was temporarily blocked by a federal judge, Rep. Deborah Ross explained that it has left state and federal officials confused on how to proceed. She remains hopeful that it will not be allowed to pass but expressed the importance of understanding what is at risk.