Tricia Cotham | |
---|---|
![]() | |
Member of the North CarolinaHouseofRepresentatives from the 112th district | |
Assumed office January 1, 2023 | |
Preceded by | David Rogers |
Member of the North CarolinaHouseofRepresentatives from the 100th district | |
In office March 22,2007 –January 1,2017 | |
Preceded by | Jim Black |
Succeeded by | John Autry |
Personal details | |
Born | Patricia Ann Cotham November 26,1978 Charlotte,North Carolina,U.S. |
Political party | Democratic (before 2023) Republican (since 2023) |
Spouse | |
Children | 2 |
Relatives | Pat Cotham (mother) |
Education | University of North Carolina, Charlotte (BA) University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill (MPA) |
Patricia Ann Cotham (born November 26, 1978) is an American politician, lobbyist and former schoolteacher. She is a member of the North Carolina House of Representatives from the 112th district, based in Mecklenburg County.
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.
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]
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]
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Tricia Cotham | 2,385 | 47.81% | |
Democratic | Yolanda Holmes | 1,559 | 31.25% | |
Democratic | Jay Holman | 853 | 17.10% | |
Democratic | Rodney Moore | 192 | 3.85% | |
Total votes | 4,989 | 100% |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Tricia Cotham | 15,389 | 59.22% | ||
Republican | Tony Long | 10,597 | 40.78% | ||
Total votes | 25,986 | 100% | |||
Democratic win (new seat) |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Alma Adams (incumbent) | 12,400 | 42.51% | |
Democratic | Malcolm Graham | 8,428 | 28.89% | |
Democratic | Tricia Cotham | 6,165 | 21.13% | |
Democratic | Carla Cunningham | 1,255 | 4.30% | |
Democratic | Gardenia Henley | 444 | 1.52% | |
Democratic | Rodney Moore | 245 | 0.84% | |
Democratic | Rick Miller | 235 | 0.81% | |
Total votes | 29,172 | 100% |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Tricia Cotham (incumbent) | 12,707 | 100% | |
Total votes | 12,707 | 100% | ||
Democratic hold | ||||
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Tricia Cotham (incumbent) | 24,217 | 100% | |
Total votes | 24,217 | 100% | ||
Democratic hold | ||||
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Tricia Cotham (incumbent) | 9,578 | 100% | |
Total votes | 9,578 | 100% | ||
Democratic hold | ||||
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Tricia Cotham (incumbent) | 7,685 | 78.83% | |
Democratic | Lloyd Scher | 2,064 | 21.17% | |
Total votes | 9,749 | 100% |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Tricia Cotham (incumbent) | 19,548 | 74.07% | |
Republican | Tom White | 6,843 | 25.93% | |
Total votes | 26,391 | 100% | ||
Democratic hold | ||||
John Irwin Sauls II is a Republican member of the North Carolina House of Representatives. A pastor from Sanford, North Carolina and former Lee County Commissioner, he has represented the 51st district since 2017. When Sauls returned to the NC House in 2017, he held the position of Republican Freshman Chair. He has been elected to the NC House a total of 5 times, most recently in 2020.
Timothy Keith Moore is an American attorney and politician who has been the speaker of the North Carolina House of Representatives since 2015. A Republican, Moore represents the 111th State House District, which includes Cleveland County. Moore was first elected to the state House in 2002.
Rebecca Ann "Becky" Carney is a Democratic member of the North Carolina House of Representatives representing the 102nd district since 2003. Her district includes constituents in Mecklenburg county. Carney is a homemaker from Charlotte, North Carolina.
Roy Asberry Cooper III is an American attorney and politician serving since 2017 as the 75th governor of North Carolina. A member of the Democratic Party, he served as the 49th attorney general of North Carolina from 2001 to 2017 and in the North Carolina General Assembly in both the House of Representatives and Senate from 1987 to 2001.
Patrick Lloyd McCrory is an American politician, businessman, and radio host who served as the 74th governor of North Carolina from 2013 to 2017. A member of the Republican Party, he previously served as the 53rd mayor of Charlotte from 1995 to 2009.
The following table indicates the party of elected officials in the U.S. state of North Carolina:
The 2012 North Carolina gubernatorial election took place on November 6, 2012, concurrently with the 2012 United States presidential election, U.S. House election, statewide judicial election, Council of State election and various local elections.
Four justices of the seven-member North Carolina Supreme Court and four judges of the 15-member North Carolina Court of Appeals were elected by North Carolina voters on November 4, 2014, concurrently with other state elections. Terms for seats on each court are eight years.
The 2016 United States House of Representatives elections in North Carolina were held on November 8, 2016, to elect the 13 U.S. representatives from the state of North Carolina, one from each of the state's 13 congressional districts. The elections coincided with the 2016 U.S. presidential election, as well as other elections to the House of Representatives, elections to the United States Senate and various state and local elections.
One justice of the seven-member North Carolina Supreme Court and five judges of the 15-member North Carolina Court of Appeals were elected by North Carolina voters on November 8, 2016, concurrently with other state elections. Terms for seats on each court are eight years.
The North Carolina Council of State elections of 2016 were held on November 8, 2016 to select the ten officers of the North Carolina Council of State. This elections coincided with the presidential election, elections to the House of Representatives, elections to the Senate and state elections to the General Assembly and judiciary. Primary elections were held March 15.
The 2016 United States presidential election in North Carolina held on Tuesday, November 8, 2016, as part of the 2016 United States presidential election in which all 50 states plus the District of Columbia participated. North Carolina voters chose electors to represent them in the Electoral College via a popular vote, pitting the Republican Party's nominee, businessman Donald Trump, and running mate Indiana Governor Mike Pence against Democratic Party nominee, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and her running mate Virginia Senator Tim Kaine. North Carolina had 15 electoral votes in the Electoral College.
George Wilmarth "Wiley" Nickel III is an American attorney and Democratic politician serving as the U.S. representative for North Carolina's 13th congressional district since 2023.
Natasha Rath Marcus is a Democratic member of the North Carolina Senate representing the 41st district.
The 2018 election in North Carolina's 9th congressional district was held on November 6, 2018, to elect a member for North Carolina's 9th congressional district to the United States House of Representatives.
The North Carolina Council of State elections of 2020 were held on November 3, 2020, to select the ten officers of the North Carolina Council of State. These elections coincided with the presidential election, elections to the House of Representatives, elections to the Senate and elections to the North Carolina General Assembly and top state courts. Primary elections were held on March 3, 2020, for offices for which more than one candidate filed per party.
The 2024 United States House of Representatives elections in North Carolina will be held on November 5, 2024, to elect the fourteen U.S. representatives from the State of North Carolina, one from all fourteen of the state's congressional districts. The elections will coincide with the 2024 U.S. presidential election, as well as other elections to the House of Representatives, elections to the United States Senate, and various state and local elections. The primary elections took place on March 5, 2024.
The North Carolina Council of State elections of 2024 are scheduled to be held on November 5, 2024, to select the ten officers of the North Carolina Council of State. These elections coincide with the presidential election, elections to the House of Representatives, elections to the North Carolina General Assembly and top state courts. Primary elections took place on March 5, 2024, for offices for which more than one candidate filed per party.
Yolanda Hill Robinson is an American accountant, non-profit executive, and civic leader. As the wife of Lieutenant Governor Mark Robinson, she has served as the Second Lady of North Carolina since 2021 and is the first African-American woman to serve as Second Lady of North Carolina. Robinson founded and operates a non-profit organization that provides meals to children in daycare facilities. She sits on the board of American Leadership Academy North Carolina and on the boards of two of its affiliated charter schools.
The Mecklenburg County Democratic Party is the largest Democratic Party in North Carolina with 322,505 registered Democrats. Meck Dems is the Mecklenburg affiliate of the Democratic Party. It is headquartered in the historic Court Arcade, located in Charlotte.