‘Pushed Me Out’: North Carolina Democrat Defects, Hands GOP Veto-Proof Control Of Legislature

State Representative Tricia Cotham of North Carolina has announced her decision to defect from the Democratic Party, and join the GOP. This move has provided the Republicans with supermajorities in both the state legislature’s chambers, thereby offering them the power to pass laws against the will of Democratic Governor Roy Cooper.

Cotham, who was elected to the North Carolina state House in 2007, was known for voting in favor of Democrats until 2017, when she lost in a congressional bid. She returned to the state House of Representatives earlier this year. Cotham’s decision has angered the Democrats, with some even asking her to resign.

According to The New York Times, Cotham blamed the personal attacks she and her family had suffered from Democrats as the reason for her departure. “The modern-day Democratic Party has become unrecognizable to me and to so many others throughout this state and this country”, she added.

Cotham’s party-switching provides the GOP with veto-proof majorities in both state legislative chambers, giving them the power to pass laws without the Democrats’ support. Cooper was “disappointed” with Cotham’s decision and urged her to continue advocating for the same issues she always has, regardless of her party identity.

On Tuesday, Cotham’s aides cleared out her desk on the Democratic side of the House chamber and set her up at a new desk on the Republican side. On the same note, Democrat State House Minority Leader Robert Reives accused Cotham of lying to her voters and called on her to resign.