Democrat switches parties, giving GOP veto-proof majority in NC House

[barbtries]

Source: WRAL

North Carolina Rep. Tricia Cotham, who won election to a deep-blue Charlotte-area seat as a Democrat just five months ago, changed parties Tuesday — an extraordinary move that gives Republicans more power to override gubernatorial vetoes in the state House and push their agenda through the legislative process.

The move further reduces Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper’s power to shape state law during his final year-plus in office. Cooper has spent the past four years able to veto controversial GOP-backed bills; Republicans lost their veto-proof majority in the 2018 “Blue Wave” elections. But the 2022 midterms went in the GOP’s favor, giving Republicans a supermajority in the Senate and leaving them just one seat short in the House — a seat Cotham now appears to be handing to the GOP.

Read more: https://www.wral.com/story/democrat-switches-parties-giving-gop-veto-proof-majority-in-nc-house/20796429

---

NC slides further down the rabbit hole of permanent republican rule with all that implies: misery for women, POC, LGBTQ, poverty for the many. on and on.

i don't know enough to comment but feel as if she's either been bought, or this was always the plan. Would love to know what others think of this.

[Marthe48]

1. Will she be the target of vitriol for exposing herself

as the turncoat she is? Shame on her. Shame.

[barbtries]

2. i believe she will be.

i think the current nickname is turncoat tricia.

it's just kind of baffling how she was a good Democrat 5 months ago. Something stinks about this don't you agree? I'm just not well enough informed to know.

[Marthe48]

11. I sure do

Whatever turned her, she is not the person she needs to be. She failed her constituents, her state, her party and our country.

When someone this embedded in their own party is this false, how do we choose candidates in the future? I just don't see this level of venal disregard being exposed in any vetting process.

[barbtries]

15. there's a saying

follow the money. that might be a good place to start.

[Marthe48]

17. No values at any price

n/t

[barbtries]

18. that's very clear.

she is the worst person in the world today.

[PatSeg]

51. Yeah, something really does stink

What a rotten thing to do. Reminds me a bit of Krysten Sinema - do or say anything to get elected and then show your true colors. I wonder what she got to do this.

[AllaN01Bear]

3. i want a re do. i didnt vote for a r+ i voted for a d.

[barbtries]

6. i feel you.

it's such a betrayal but especially of her voters.

[moose65]

16. Are you in her district?

I am curious about this. Has she made a statement or talked to her constituents at all??

Is this another thing we have to worry about now? Republicans-in-disguise who run as Dems in blue districts and then switch?? Sheesh.

[Lonestarblue]

38. I seriously think this may be yet another tactic in the Republican playbook of dirt politics.

Republicans in one Florida district ran a fake progressive candidate to create a three-person vote and won the election. It’s entirely possible that they are now grooming candidates in purple states especially to pretend to be Democrats and then switch parties once elected. This possibility puts even more burdens on local parties to do deep background checks of potential candidates.

Whether Kristen Sinema was supported by Republicans who were grooming her for a switch is unknown, but her votes say she is no Democrat. She most likely switched to independent instead of Republican to keep her committee roles.

[PatSeg]

54. Yes, I wonder if Tricia was always a republican

In Krysten's case, she had been a Democrat for some time, but apparently was bought or influenced rather quickly. I'm quite sure that Tricia knew she was going to switch parties while she was running as a Democrat. I'm not sure about Sinema. I think she was always just about herself and did whatever served her best.

[moose65]

58. She previously served as a Democrat

She was a Dem member of the State House from 2007 - 2016. Her family has deep roots in the Mecklenburg-area Democratic party. Seems like she's been a lifelong Democrat.

Makes one wonder if she's being bought off or if she really was a Republican in Dem Clothing for all those years! What does she expect to gain by switching? Is she now going to be anti-abortion, anti-LGBTQ, anti-everything we stand for??

[PatSeg]

61. Yes, I just did a Google search

and found out that she really was a Democrat. So in that sense, it makes her look more and more like Krysten Sinema, just out to benefit herself in some way(s). It's not like she just overnight changed her position on everything, unless the Body Snatchers hit North Carolina or alien brain worms. More like greed I'd think.

[cilla4progress]

32. Recall?

Is that a viable option?

Sounds like shes been bought off.

[moose65]

59. As far as I know, we don't have a recall process

Our state legislators serve "part time" (whatever that means) and they don't get paid much. Something like $15,000 a year and a per diem when they're in Raleigh. A person who has a job can't really serve, so we get lots of retirees and rich people who own companies and don't have to work.

[cilla4progress]

60. I'm sorry!

Someone's gotta know what relief you have available!

[PatSeg]

52. I don't blame you

I'd be furious. That was a total betrayal. I'll bet she won't be spending any time meeting with constituents.

[vercetti2021]

4. State is lost for now

Its gonna take time to unfuck it sadly. Look how long it took for Democrats in WI to finally get a footing in unfucking that state. 13 long ass years. Keep fighting for NC, but right now its lost.

[barbtries]

5. sadly I agree.

our story is so much like Wisconsin's, but we've gone the wrong way, the republicans have outmaneuvered the Democrats at every turn it appears, and we're headed toward being another MS or AL. i fucking hate it.

I might consider moving to WI but no, no, no, i could not handle the snow.

[moose65]

12. I feel your pain

I hate, hate, HATE what those fuckers have done to this state. We are pretty much evenly divided here, as in the last few statewide elections it has been close to 50-50, but those assholes have gerrymandered themselves a supermajority, and now they have control of the state Supreme Court as well. They will try to pass every rightwing piece of crap legislation that they can.

The NC Dem party shares some of the blame, though. For years they have sat around saying "Woe is me" and acting like they are powerless to fight the big bad Republicans. There were no Dem candidates in a host of state house and senate races last fall, and turnout even in our big cities was horrible. There are still more registered Dems than Republicans in this state, but you'd never know it from the way the state party acts.

I fear we are fucked, for a long time.

[duhneece]

91. Recruiting Dems to run so that there are no unopposed races

Research shows that running local candidates helps elect Congress critters.

I ask almost every Democrat I know to run. After going to city, county and state meetings and legislative sessions, I discovered that 95% of all the Democrats who come to monthly meetings would make better representatives than the Republicans who are in there now.

Recruiting time is now.

[oldsoftie]

48. Well, NC wasnt a swing state last 2 elections, but every vote helps

[Fullduplexxx]

7. A republican ran as a Democrat. That race should be re run

[barbtries]

8. this is what i don't know, and wish i did.

Did she play it so well that the people thought she was a Democrat? Or were there signs, indications, positions that hinted at this? I'm not in that district and this story is quite new to me but I smell a rat.

[PatSeg]

56. Yes

People need to do some thorough background research on Tricia. She didn't turn into a rat overnight.

[yardwork]

84. I'm reading that she's having an affair with Tim Moore.

Also, it might be significant that the vote she missed last week was the veto override to allow permitless handgun purchases. I guess the NRA is giving her a lot of money.

The crap she's spouting about doing this because Democrats were mean to her makes my blood boil. This has been planned for a long time, I'm sure. I think she ran under false pretenses in this last election, in order to get a Republican elected into a deep blue district.

I'm furious. This was a typical NC Republican dirty trick. Democrats need to fight back, hard. The gloves need to come off.

[barbtries]

93. reading further,

it appears that she was a pretty staunch Democrat for a long long time. I would not discount the boyfriend angle.

bottom line she betrayed her constituents and the entire state of NC.

[Jose Garcia]

76. She previously served in the legislature from 2007-2017 as a Democrat

[Samrob]

9. Come 2024, they may rue the day. Any tag of GOP should be toxic by then. nt

[barbtries]

13. i used to believe that.

and I'd like to still, but I've been disabused of that notion so thoroughly by now. I actually thought the entire party would go away after gwbush! but here we are.

it cannot be overstated how much the South is run on racism. people vote against their own best interests and the lowest common denominator pacifies them into voting for these FUCKS over and over. can't just blame it on the politicians, though they are very, very bad. or the media, which has failed this nation for sure. it's also the people.

I hope you're right, but I'm operating on the assumption that by 2024, we'll be a mirror image of the poorest, most ignorant, least educated, most racist, states in the country. NC used to be known as the jewel of the South, but now it's just another red blob on the map of the South.

[mountain grammy]

22. Racism is all American

but I agree with you.. the South is run on racism.

[barbtries]

25. definitely racism is everywhere in the US.

it was born in the south and here it lives. there are people here who are still litigating the civil war FFS.

[mountain grammy]

30. sadly true.

My family was stationed at Cherry Point when I was 10, 1957-8. the base was integrated but nothing else. It was an eye opening experience for me and I've never forgotten. As an adult I lived 6 years in Texas. Not much had changed in the minds of so many southerners, and seeing who they elect, I would have to say it's still by far the majority. This story about the Dem who switched just blows me away..

[barbtries]

35. me too.

i'm profoundly saddened by this.

[Meadowoak]

10. She's sold her soul.

[barbtries]

14. her soul was already history I suppose.

i do wonder keenly if there is corruption behind this. i guess it just baffles me otherwise. it's not like her seat would have been threatened by voting with the Democrats; quite the opposite I gather.

[keopeli]

19. From a deep-blue area comes a traitor to her constituents. Despicable.

[Freethinker65]

20. Continue to use veto power to make GOP override to take away rights

GOP always over reaches. It will need to get worse before it gets better.

[barbtries]

23. i don't have enough time left in this life

to be around when it gets better, unless something really changes within the next very few years.

yesterday was a great day. then this. no wonder so many people just check out, keep their heads down, and live out their lives. being politically engaged is a fucking rollercoaster. today, NC has broken my heart because of this lowlife.

[Freethinker65]

31. It sucks. I know.

I watched my home State of Michigan go from a proud pro labor State, where many of the working class were able to send their kids to college and had enough money for summer cottages to spend leisure time, to a battered down, fearful of minorities (Detroit), DeVos faux Christian dominated "right to work" for less wages and benefits State. Voters finally had enough.

The Michigan GOP embraced ignorance, fear, and vindictiveness and over-stepped and finally got trampled.

[yardwork]

85. I'm certain the timing was deliberate, too.

These people are so childish, on top of everything else.

[edhopper]

21. RECALL!!

[barbtries]

24. absolutely.

and find out the entire story. my strongest guess, which is nothing else but a guess, is she was paid.

[bluestarone]

29. Is this possible

[edhopper]

33. I don't know

but it's worth a try.

[moose65]

99. NC doesn't have any process for recall

There's not one damn thing that can be done except to walk behind her with the "Shame" bell from "Game of Thrones."

[link:|

[Zambero]

26. If a deep blue district then she just made herself very vulnerable

Especially if she goes fundie-MAGA. A viable Dem candidate would hopefully show her the door come election day.

[FBaggins]

39. Only if it STAYS a deep blue district

She now on the side that gets to draw the lines once the court in their back pocket "fixes" the earlier ruling.

[yardwork]

86. All part of the plan, I'm sure.

[czarjak]

27. They said that they would run as Democrats just to do exactly that. Because if you're not cheating..

You're not trying.

[barbtries]

28. bad faith.

Democrats are often criticized for not beating republicans, but it seems that to do so, you have to act in bad faith as republicans do as a matter of course. I don't want that from my leaders either. it's a real conundrum.

[JohnSJ]

34. Unless we start getting 75% turnout, I won't be surprised to see Sinema do the same thing. I don't

think Manchin will because he has associated as a Democrat for too long, and he craves the power it affords him.

We need to win by a substantial margin, and the only way to do that is huge voter turnout

[barbtries]

36. that is absolutely the only way.

too many votes to overlook, ignore, throw away. it's the only possible way.

[moose65]

62. Here's a little background

She was appointed to the NC House in 2007 in the 100th district when the previous house member resigned. She was 28 at the time, and had been a teacher and assistant principal. At the time she was the youngest woman who had ever served in the NC House. I'm not sure if that's still true now.

She won re-election to the NC House in 2008, 2010, 2012, 2014. In three of those elections she was unopposed, and she won her first election in 2008 in a landslide.

Her family has longstanding ties to the NC Dem party. In fact, her mother is currently a Mecklenberg County Commissioner.

She used to be married to Jerry Meek, who was the chair of the NC Dem Party. In fact, he resigned to marry her. There's some speculation that her acrimony toward her ex-husband contributed to this party switch.

I just don't get it. How does a lifelong Dem, who has seen firsthand how these Republicans act, suddenly decide to become one? When she first joined the NC House, the Dems were the majority (O, the good old days)! Then the Reps took over in 2010 and so she knows how they've behaved since then.

She tried to run for the US House in 2016 but lost in the primary. I don't know what she was doing between 2016 and 2022.

[JohnSJ]

64. Appreciate the background. My point though stands. We have to turn out in huge numbers in order

to secure a substantial majority, which would also buffer for situations such as this

[barbtries]

66. thank you for that.

someone should be taking a hard look at her financial situation.

[littlemissmartypants]

80. NC has been notorious for eons for palm greasing and back room deals.

She's no doubt come into money or been promised something in exchange for her switch. Time will tell. Now the call has been sent out for her to resign immediately. I'm not going to hold my breath on that. She's despicable.


Link to sign up with Progress NC:
https://progressncaction.org/

What follows is from the Progress NC email I got.

TAKE ACTION: Tell Rep. Tricia Cotham to RESIGN
We elect legislators to represent our best interests in the General Assembly. Voters elected Tricia Cotham to NC House District 112 based on her stated values as a Democrat and champion of abortion rights, gun reform, and LGTBQ+ rights. Today Rep. Cotham betrayed the trust of her constituents and officially switched parties to become a Republican.

Cotham has already shown that she will back extreme right-wing policy. This session, she has voted with Republicans on a bill requiring local sheriffs to cooperate with ICE and a bill that criminalizes protesting in North Carolina. In addition, just two days after yet another horrific school shooting in Nashville, she walked away from an important vote to keep guns out of the hands of dangerous people.

By changing parties just a few months after her election, Cotham has sold out not only her constituents in the Charlotte area but also North Carolinians around the state who stand for fairness and justice.

Let’s let Tricia Cotham know that she has betrayed the community that worked hard to get her elected, her constituents to whom she made false promises, and all North Carolinians who stand to lose so much from her deceit. Since she can no longer be trusted to fairly represent her district, she should resign immediately.

Link by Progress NC to send her an email demanding her resignation here:
https://progressnc.actionkit.com/letter/take-action-tell-rep-tricia-cotham-resign/?t=7&referring_akid=100322.32604.aymm25

Sample:
Rep. Cotham,

You were elected to represent the best interests of your constituents in the General Assembly. The voters of House District 112 chose you for your stated promise to fight for abortion rights, gun reform, and LGTBQ+ rights. Your decision to switch parties is a betrayal to your voters, and to North Carolina. I am writing today to demand that you resign immediately so that your constituents can have a leader in the General Assembly that will actually fight for the values they hold dear.

Shame on you.

We elect legislators to represent our best interests in the General Assembly. Voters elected Tricia Cotham to NC House District 112 based on her stated values as a Democrat and champion of abortion rights, gun reform, and LGTBQ+ rights. Today Rep. Cotham betrayed the trust of her constituents and officially switched parties to become a Republican. She has proven that she can’t be trusted to uphold her promises and should resign immediately.

[yardwork]

89. I think the NRA pours money into N.C.

[Rebl2]

37. Was she

A more conservative democrat when she ran last year?

[barbtries]

41. i don't know,

i'm not from her district and this story is new to me too. I would like to know and hoping someone pops in who does.

[yardwork]

87. No.

[Traildogbob]

40. How much

Money did she get from Dem organizations to get elected? These assholes need to sign a damn contract that they will have to give every damn dime back. Never forget the State gave the country Meadow's and Cawthorn. And Budd is the same cut. We are hangin own with a Dem Gov, barely.
We are so damn Gerrymandered the courts said we are no longer a democracy.
And the case is sitting in the Supremacy court that will let Legislators TURN OVER FUCKING ELECTIONS they don’t like.
FUCK that asshole Tricia.
Women is power are becoming as corrupt as old white men. Except the minority women. They are our hope.

[barbtries]

42. and young people.

they are our hope. WOC and young people, but they can't make the change alone. I'd like to really retire but don't have the conscience for it.

[Traildogbob]

43. Yes.

They are pissed in Tennessee. The GQP know it and are eliminating voting near or at colleges.
We are in the middle of a war with a fascist regime, right on our own soil this time. Will we rise to the occasion? What a disgrace to lost souls that fought for America all over the world to stop this shit. Damn, my joy of trump just got stomped on. Beginning to think we are not gonna get out of this takeover.

[barbtries]

44. it is profoundly discouraging.

I'm so glad i got DU!

time will tell, and so will the people.

[Zeitghost]

81. Let me get this straight

You want political donations to be contingent on voting the way the donor wants?

I think they call that bribing a public official and it's a serious crime and undercuts the foundation of our democratic system.

[Traildogbob]

83. And lying

To get elected with money from one party to then switch parties five months later and support everything opposite you promised your donors is great for democracy. Especially If the party you switch to is against democracy. And in this case that party is headed to the Supreme Court with a case that legislators will be able to overturn election results. And THAT is good for democracy.
Am I getting that straight? Yes, Democrat will be just fine here in NC with that supermajority.
And when asked what they will do next election because she stole a deep blue seat, GQP said we are gonna redistrict that whole area to destroy it. Good Democracy there. And citizens United is NOT bribery? And Sinema, Manchin and ALL AR 15 GQPers are not at all bribed.
But yea, let’s stay on the high road that’s a dead end for Democrat under the GQP rules.
And when Sinema and Machine go all in GQP, with donor money electing them, THEN take money to switch and end democracy, at least we can be proud of how we played the game with participation trophy’s.
Go it.

[Zeitghost]

90. We have a solution to the problem

It's called an election. If her constituents are not happy, they will show her the door.

This is not a problem that calls for legitimizing and formalizing the political bribery process so that big money donors can hold their paid for politicians liable with civil penalties if they fail to do as they are told.

[Traildogbob]

92. Right

How’s all that working out?
An election where in this state they plan on Legislature super power that can overturn that election
Now in the hands of the supremacy court. And a state so gerrymandered, with plans to go further in that district to give her the power to never be voted out. We have been deemed no longer a democracy her in NC with gerrymandering, just one of many vote destroying ploys. So forgive
Me as a constituent, that put hard earned cash into the race to hold on to democracy, for not feeling all good about, “we can vote her out”. That is becoming no solution at all. When it happens to you, maybe I will listen to your solution. Meanwhile we constituents are furious at her and the GQP fraud. There has to be repercussions for this party switching fraud crap. Recalls for that offense could be looked at. Michigan and Wisconsin are a little ahead of the game to get voters out, but GQP and billionaire will go to war ti turn that back.
This case from NC in the Court now, could end votes everywhere.
Sorry to be so pissed, but watching my state headed for Florida and worse is enraging. I did not think after serving this country, fighting on foreign soil to “protect Democrat”, what a joke that has been, could end up like this. And all my fallen brothers and sisters would be just a raged as I am.
We do vote, we did vote, I had not right to vote but had a draft status, and seeing that taken away is fucking ridiculous. Yea. I am mad. My vote was shit on as we’re ALL her damn constituents.

[OneBro]

45. It was like listening to Susan Collins.

Watching her press conference, it’s difficult to believe she was ever aligned with Democratic policies.

[barbtries]

46. i'm not going to watch it.

i've been thinking about collins this morning. i have these political arguments with a friend of mine and had one this morning but only in my mind. she either did or still does think collins is a great champion of womens rights.

i have had my told you so moment already - when SCOTUS overturned Roe. the day kavanaugh was confirmed i said to her, "Say good-bye to Roe," and she didn't believe it until the day it happened.

at the end of the day all Collins is or cares about being is republican. i'm not going to listen to this hypocritical lying sack of shit after your comment, don't need that today. thank you for taking the blow on my behalf.

[louis-t]

47. She is deep state.

All planned. GOP slimeballs know this was the only way they could win. She was deep undercover for a few years. Sleeper cell.

[barbtries]

49. are you from her district?

or just what you're thinking happened? i mean i would really like to know that.

that should be illegal. motherfuckers

i hate republicans

[louis-t]

50. This is just what I think happened.

Pretty obvious to an outsider. They play the long game.

[bluestarone]

53. Any chance to RECALL her?

Being this IS a very blue district, i would think RECALL her. Anyone?

[FBaggins]

72. North Carolina has no recall provision

At least - not at the state level. A handful of local municipalities have one.

[bluestarone]

73. Well, that's too bad. (i'm sure that figured into why they did this)

TY!

[spudspud]

55. Can the Democractic party sue her?

For fraud or something to get back all the funds they spent on supporting her. I mean, she literally just got elected. There is some clear f%$(*@ going on, to switch just 5 months in.

[PatSeg]

57. A call for Tricia Cotham to "Resign"

Tricia Cotham’s decision to switch parties is a betrayal to the people in HD-112 with repercussions not only for her district, but the entire state of North Carolina. She no longer represents the values constituents trusted her to champion, and should resign immediately. #ncpol

Link to tweet

?s=20

[SouthernDem4ever]

78. Can they set up a recall vote?

I don't know the laws in NC regarding that.

[PatSeg]

79. I don't either

I can imagine the voters who elected her must be furious.

[LiveToLurk]

63. What I've Been Reading....

Is that she is dating the Speaker of the House there - Tim Moore. She'll get lots of committee assignments now I guess?

[malthaussen]

65. Somehow, I feel this should be susceptible of fraud charges.

It's not a common occurrence, but it seems pretty unethical to me.

-- Mal

[Zeitghost]

82. Criminal charges...

For changing political parties, by anyone, seems like the very definition of authoritarian fascism.

We have a remedy for this, it's called an election.

[chowder66]

67. I feel for all of the constituents who put their faith in her and gave her their money and time.

[raging moderate]

68. What church does she attend? Has she recently switched churches?

Did her new boyfriend Tim recently introduce her to his church? And is his church one of those fundamentalist covert white-supremacist klans?

[ripcord]

69. None of your business

[barbtries]

71. it's a good question.

could be a new church, or maybe just a new boyfriend. either way "turncoat tricia" fits her to a T

[ripcord]

98. It is no one's business what church anyone attends

[barbtries]

100. when "churches" are political bodies,

it matters and is the people's business.

[ripcord]

101. Why don't you make a FOIA request for information on her religion?

Just don't be surprised when you are told it is none of your business.

[barbtries]

102. my you're really hostile about this.

i wonder why.

[yardwork]

88. It sure as hell is our business.

I live in North Carolina. This politician just got elected in a deep blue district while pretending to be a Democrat. Her betrayal just gave the Republicans a veto-proof majority. They're getting ready to unleash all hell in me and millions of North Carolinians.

It absolutely is my business to find out what's going on. The gloves are off.

North Carolina Republicans invented dirty campaign ads. Maybe you've heard of Jesse Helms. It's time for Democrats to fight back.

[bluestarone]

97. What's your problem?

You just made my IGNORE list!

[d_b]

70. She took the money

The GOP are about to learn that this isn’t Alabama. The overreach will be long and hard.

[live love laugh]

74. Does she have a twin sister in AZ? Asking for a friend...

[SouthernDem4ever]

77. Sounds like Fraud to me

on the level of George Santos.

[newdayneeded]

94. law or rule change

if an elected person decides to change party affiliation, the spot should be vacated for 6 months, then a special election run with them and an apponent from their previous party. if they win, oh well, the switch happens. But at least it would be contested.

[barbtries]

95. there should be some sort of recourse

for the voters.

[newdayneeded]

96. I just made an OP of this.

[LudwigPastorius]

103. Check her bank accounts.