North Carolina state Rep. Tricia Cotham announced she would be switching party affiliations from Democrat to Republican, handing the GOP a supermajority in both state legislature chambers.
Cotham made the decision out of frustration with the current state of the Democratic Party, she told reporters on Wednesday, noting its lawmakers have become increasingly narrow-minded despite painting themselves as inclusive. Cotham’s exit surprised several lawmakers as the ex-Democrat has served in the party for over a decade.
“The party wants to villainize anyone who has free thought, free judgment, has solutions, and wants to get to work to better our state,” Cotham said.“What happened to the concept of a big tent party? What happened to these ideas that we’re inclusive, we’re tolerant, we’re so welcoming to everybody? No, you’re not.”
The announcement prompted a flurry of responses from both parties, with several national Republicans applauding Cotham’s decision.
“[Tricia Cotham] and I were both members of the same freshman class in the State House, and I’ve always admired her independent streak and determination to deliver results for the people she represents, even when it meant going against the head of her own party,” said Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) in a tweet.
Others lauded the announcement, pointing to the shift as a foreshadowing of what’s to come in the 2024 elections.
“Voters are leaving the Democrat Party every day because its extreme agenda hurts North Carolina families,” said Sen. Ted Budd (R-NC) in a statement to the Washington Examiner. “Far-left Democrats will only fight for a radical, woke agenda — not for good, hardworking people. Rep. Cotham’s historic announcement highlights that Republicans are the only party focused on the bottom line for taxpayers here at home. I wouldn’t be surprised if Democrat lawmakers in Washington, DC follow suit.”
Some Republicans went further, using Cotham’s announcement to invite other Democrats to follow suit.
“Moderate, suburban Democrats who are waking up to the fact that their own party has sold them a bill of goods should consider this an invitation to join us,” said Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-NC). “I would not blame these Democrats for having a change of heart – urban cities run by soft-on-crime members of their own party are now awash with lawlessness and extremism. It’s true that the Republican Party offers a vision and commitment to foundational principles that are unparalleled.”
Cotham’s party switch brings a massive shift to the North Carolina legislature as it guarantees Republicans power over both the House and Senate, rendering Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper‘s veto useless if all members show up to vote.
A similar shift has been seen in other states over the last few months, such as Louisiana, where state Rep. Francis Thompson announced last month he would be switching to the Republican Party, giving the GOP a legislative supermajority. National Republican leaders pointed to those examples as the start of a major shake-up in the 2024 elections.
“Even in a Biden district in a purple state, Democrats are reading the writing on the wall: liberal policies are too extreme, and they’re failing Americans,” Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel told the Washington Examiner in a statement. “Ahead of 2024, Republican momentum is growing, and we are proud to welcome Tricia Cotham to the Republican Party.”
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Meanwhile, North Carolina Democrats denounced the decision, calling on Cotham to resign from office.
“Rep. Tricia Cotham campaigned as a Democrat and supporter of abortion rights, healthcare, public education, gun safety, and civil rights,” said state House Minority Leader Robert Reives in a statement. “Those constituents deserved to know what values were most important to their elected representative. Because of that, the appropriate action is for her to resign so that her constituents are fairly represented in the North Carolina House of Representatives.”
