Cotham represented the 100th district in the North Carolina House of Representatives from 2007 to 2017 as a Democrat. She was elected as a Democrat in 2022 to represent District 112. Cotham formally changed her affiliation to the Republican Party on April 5, 2023, granting the North Carolina House Republicans a supermajority. Prior to her party switch, Cotham had campaigned on a traditional Democratic Party platform and had voted for abortion rights legislation. Shortly after her party switch, Cotham cast the deciding vote for legislation to restrict abortion access in North Carolina.
Career
In March 2007, Cotham was appointed to represent the 100th district in the North Carolina House of Representatives to replace Rep. James B. Black, who had resigned.[1] She was elected to the House in 2008, and was re-elected in 2010, 2012, and 2014. Cotham was co-chair of the House's K-12 Education subcommittee from 2008–2010.[citation needed]
Cotham is a "former CMS Teacher of the Year and assistant principal of East Mecklenburg and Independence high schools".[2]
In 2015, Cotham gave a speech on the House floor explaining that she had had an abortion, saying, "This decision was up to me, my husband, my doctor and my God. It was not up to any of you in this chamber."[3]
Cotham chose not to run for re-election in 2016.[4] She later said she would consider running for the U.S. House of Representatives in the newly redrawn 12th congressional district.[5] Cotham filed to run for the U.S. House seat on March 21, 2016, but lost the Democratic primary to incumbent Congresswoman Alma Adams.[6]
In 2019, Cotham and three partners founded the lobbying firm BCHL.[7]
In 2022, Cotham sought to return to the North Carolina House of Representatives. Some Republican political leaders in North Carolina encouraged her to run for office as a Democrat.[7] This time, she ran for the House in the 112th district, defeating Republican Tony Long, 59.2%-40.8%.[8] Cotham ran on a platform of raising the minimum wage, protecting voting rights and supporting LGBTQ rights.[9]
In early 2023, Cotham voted to codify the abortion-related Roe v. Wade decision into state law.[10]
On April 4, 2023, WRAL-TV reported that Cotham had changed her party registration from Democratic to Republican.[11] On April 5, 2023, Cotham announced that she had left the Democratic Party and joined the Republican Party. Cotham's move gave House Republicans a veto-proof majority that allowed them to pass legislation without negotiating with North Carolina's Democratic governor, Roy Cooper. Cotham stated that fellow Democrats had criticized her on Twitter, called her names, and had been "coming after [her] family, coming after [her] children". She also said the turning point was a situation in which she was hounded for using the American flag on social media and on her vehicles.[12] In another interview, she said "she felt bullied by Democrats and wanted to switch to a party that felt more welcoming".[13]
In May 2023, Cotham voted in favor of a ban on abortions after 12 weeks of pregnancy.[14][10] Cotham's deciding vote[15] enabled Republicans to override Gov. Cooper's veto and enact the legislation.[16][17] North Carolina Rep. Wesley Harris accused Cotham of having lied to the voters, Alexis McGill Johnson of Planned Parenthood admonished Cotham, and former aides spoke out against her "abortion betrayal".[18]
Personal life and family
Cotham's mother, Pat Cotham, was elected to the Democratic National Committee in 2010.[19] As of 2023, Pat Cotham is a member of the Mecklenburg County Board of Commissioners, having been first elected in 2012.[20]
Tricia Cotham was married to state Democratic Party chair Jerry Meek in late 2008.[21] The two have since divorced.[22]
