Tricia Cotham: Difference between revisions

Tricia Cotham
Tricia Cotham
Member of the North Carolina House of Representatives; from the 112th district
	Incumbent
	Assumed office ; January 1, 2023
Preceded by	David Rogers
Member of the North Carolina House of Representatives; from the 100th district
	In office; March 22, 2007 – January 1, 2017
Preceded by	Jim Black
Succeeded by	John Autry
Personal details
Born	November 26, 1978 (age 45); Charlotte, North Carolina, U.S.
Political party	Democratic (before 2023); Republican (since 2023)
Spouse	Jerry Meek (divorced)
Children	2
Relatives	Pat Cotham (mother)
Education	University of North Carolina, Charlotte (BA); University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill (MPA)

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Patricia Ann Cotham (born November 26, 1978) is an American politician and a former schoolteacher. She is a member of the North Carolina House of Representatives from the 112th district, based in Mecklenburg County.

Career

In March 2007, she was appointed by Governor Mike Easley to the 100th district, upon the recommendation of local Democratic Party leaders, to replace state Representative James B. Black, who had resigned. Cotham served as Co-Chair of the House's K-12 Education subcommittee from 2008–2010.

In 2008, she was named UNC Chapel Hill's School of Education's Young Alumna of the Year and the North Carolina Association of Educators (NCAE) graded Cotham an "A+" Legislator.

Prior to serving in the legislature, Cotham began her first year of classroom teaching in 2001, where she taught social studies and was named Most Outstanding First Year Middle School Teacher of the East Region of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg School District. She started her first year as an Assistant Principal at East Mecklenburg High School in the fall of 2006 and was appointed to the legislature in March 2007.

Cotham chose not to run for re-election in 2016.^[1] She later said she would consider running for the U.S. House of Representatives in the newly redrawn 12th congressional district.^[2] Cotham filed to run for the seat on March 21, 2016, but lost the primary to incumbent Congresswoman Alma Adams.^[3]

In 2022, she won an election to return to the North Carolina House of Representatives.

In April 2023, it was announced Cotham was expected to switch parties from Democratic to Republican.^[4] WRAL-TV in North Carolina reported on April 4 that Cotham had already changed her party registration.^[5]

On April 5, 2023, Cotham formally announced her departure from the Democratic Party and joined the Republican Party giving the latter a veto-proof majority; allowing them to pass bills without negotiating with the Democratic Governor. She stated the reasons she was leaving were her fellow Democrats "blasting me on Twitter to calling me names, coming after my family, coming after my children. That is wrong." In one article she is quoted stating the turning point was the hounding of her using the American flag on social media and on her vehicles.^[6] In another article she is quoted saying "she felt bullied by Democrats and wanted to switch to a party that felt more welcoming." Cotham ran on a platform of "raising the minimum wage, protecting voting rights and bolstering LGBTQ rights", contrary to Republicans' legislative agenda.^[7]^[8]

Family

Cotham’s mother, Pat Cotham, is a former Democratic National Committee member and currently a member of the Mecklenburg County Board of Commissioners, having been elected in 2012.^[9]

Cotham was married to state Democratic Party chair Jerry Meek. The two have since divorced.^[10]

Cotham has two sons.^[11] Cotham lives in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Personal life

Cotham is a Christian.^[12]

Electoral history

2022

North Carolina House of Representatives 112th district Democratic primary election, 2022^[13]
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%

2016

North Carolina's 12th congressional district Democratic primary election, 2016^[14]
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%

2014

North Carolina House of Representatives 100th district general election, 2014^[15]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Tricia Cotham (incumbent)	12,707	100%
Total votes			12,707	100%
	Democratic hold

2012

North Carolina House of Representatives 100th district general election, 2012^[16]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Tricia Cotham (incumbent)	24,217	100%
Total votes			24,217	100%
	Democratic hold

2010

North Carolina House of Representatives 100th district general election, 2010^[17]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Tricia Cotham (incumbent)	9,578	100%
Total votes			9,578	100%
	Democratic hold

2008

North Carolina House of Representatives 100th district Democratic primary election, 2008^[18]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Tricia Cotham (incumbent)	7,685	78.83%
	Democratic	Lloyd Scher	2,064	21.17%
Total votes			9,749	100%

North Carolina House of Representatives 100th district general election, 2008^[19]
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

References

^ Morrill, Jim (3 October 2015). "Rep. Tricia Cotham won't run for re-election". Charlotte Observer. Retrieved 23 February 2020.
^ "Malcolm Graham files paperwork in Congressional District 12 race". WSOC. 17 March 2016. Retrieved 23 February 2020.
^ "NC State Board of Elections". Archived from the original on March 21, 2016.
^ Sherman, Lucille (April 4, 2023). "NC Democrat expected to change parties". Axios.
^ Doran, Will; Specht, Paul; Leslie, Laura (April 4, 2023). "Democrat Cotham defects, giving GOP veto-proof majority in NC House". WRAL-TV. Retrieved April 4, 2023.
^ Kliegman, Aaron (April 5, 2023). "North Carolina lawmaker officially leaves Dems for GOP, says turning point was American flag criticism". Fox News.
^ Corasaniti, Nick; Vigdor, Neil (2023-04-05). "Democrat's U-Turn to Join the G.O.P. Upends North Carolina Politics". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2023-04-06.
^ "Tricia Cotham for NC House". 2023-04-04. Archived from the original on 2023-04-04. Retrieved 2023-04-06.
^ News & Observer: Cotham wins spot on Democratic National Committee Archived April 1, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
^ "Republicans gain veto-proof control in North Carolina after Democrat switches parties". www.cbsnews.com.
^ Campaign site
^ "Charlotte Democrat switched parties after being called 'ammosexual,' critiqued for invoking Jesus Christ | WDBD FOX 40 Jackson MS Local News, Weather and Sports". fox40jackson.com. April 5, 2023.
^ [1] North Carolina State Board of Elections.
^ [2] North Carolina State Board of Elections.
^ [3] North Carolina State Board of Elections.
^ [4] North Carolina State Board of Elections.
^ [5] North Carolina State Board of Elections.
^ [6] North Carolina State Board of Elections.
^ [7] North Carolina State Board of Elections.

External links

North Carolina House of Representatives
Preceded by Jim Black	Member of the North Carolina House of Representatives from the 100th district 2007–2017	Succeeded by John Autry
Preceded by David Rogers	Member of the North Carolina House of Representatives from the 112th district 2023–present	Incumbent

[1] Morrill, Jim (3 October 2015). "Rep. Tricia Cotham won't run for re-election". Charlotte Observer. Retrieved 23 February 2020.

[2] "Malcolm Graham files paperwork in Congressional District 12 race". WSOC. 17 March 2016. Retrieved 23 February 2020.

[3] "NC State Board of Elections". Archived from the original on March 21, 2016.

[4] Sherman, Lucille (April 4, 2023). "NC Democrat expected to change parties". Axios.

[5] Doran, Will; Specht, Paul; Leslie, Laura (April 4, 2023). "Democrat Cotham defects, giving GOP veto-proof majority in NC House". WRAL-TV. Retrieved April 4, 2023.

[6] Kliegman, Aaron (April 5, 2023). "North Carolina lawmaker officially leaves Dems for GOP, says turning point was American flag criticism". Fox News.

[7] Corasaniti, Nick; Vigdor, Neil (2023-04-05). "Democrat's U-Turn to Join the G.O.P. Upends North Carolina Politics". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2023-04-06.

[8] "Tricia Cotham for NC House". 2023-04-04. Archived from the original on 2023-04-04. Retrieved 2023-04-06.

[9] News & Observer: Cotham wins spot on Democratic National Committee Archived April 1, 2012, at the Wayback Machine

[10] "Republicans gain veto-proof control in North Carolina after Democrat switches parties". www.cbsnews.com.

[11] Campaign site

[12] "Charlotte Democrat switched parties after being called 'ammosexual,' critiqued for invoking Jesus Christ | WDBD FOX 40 Jackson MS Local News, Weather and Sports". fox40jackson.com. April 5, 2023.

[13] [1] North Carolina State Board of Elections.

[14] [2] North Carolina State Board of Elections.

[15] [3] North Carolina State Board of Elections.

[16] [4] North Carolina State Board of Elections.

[17] [5] North Carolina State Board of Elections.

[18] [6] North Carolina State Board of Elections.

[19] [7] North Carolina State Board of Elections.

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@@ Line 50: / Line 50: @@
 ==Personal life==
-Cotham is a Christian.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://fox40jackson.com/headlines/charlotte-democrat-switched-parties-after-being-called-ammosexual-critiqued-for-invoking-jesus-christ/|title=Charlotte Democrat switched parties after being called 'ammosexual,' critiqued for invoking Jesus Christ &#124; WDBD FOX 40 Jackson MS Local News, Weather and Sports|date=April 5, 2023|website=fox40jackson.com}}</ref>As a Christian, her faith includes passages such as [[Book of Proverbs]] 26:28 [[KJV]].
+Cotham is a Christian.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://fox40jackson.com/headlines/charlotte-democrat-switched-parties-after-being-called-ammosexual-critiqued-for-invoking-jesus-christ/|title=Charlotte Democrat switched parties after being called 'ammosexual,' critiqued for invoking Jesus Christ &#124; WDBD FOX 40 Jackson MS Local News, Weather and Sports|date=April 5, 2023|website=fox40jackson.com}}</ref>
 ==Electoral history==

v t e Members of the North Carolina House of Representatives
156th General Assembly (2023–2024) Speaker of the House Tim Moore (R) Speaker pro tempore Sarah Stevens (R) Majority Leader John Bell (R) Minority Leader Robert Reives (D)
▌Ed Goodwin (R) ▌Ray Jeffers (D) ▌Steve Tyson (R) ▌Jimmy Dixon (R) ▌Bill Ward (R) ▌Joe Pike (R) ▌Matthew Winslow (R) ▌Gloristine Brown (D) ▌Timothy Reeder (R) ▌John Bell (R) ▌Allison Dahle (D) ▌Chris Humphrey (R) ▌Celeste Cairns (R) ▌George Cleveland (R) ▌Phil Shepard (R) ▌Carson Smith (R) ▌Frank Iler (R) ▌Deb Butler (D) ▌Charlie Miller (R) ▌Ted Davis Jr. (R) ▌Ya Liu (D) ▌William Brisson (R) ▌Shelly Willingham (D) ▌Ken Fontenot (R) ▌Allen Chesser (R) ▌Donna McDowell White (R) ▌Michael Wray (D) ▌Larry Strickland (R) ▌Vernetta Alston (D) ▌Marcia Morey (D) ▌Zack Forde-Hawkins (D) ▌Frank Sossamon (R) ▌Rosa Gill (D) ▌Tim Longest (D) ▌Terence Everitt (D) ▌Julie von Haefen (D) ▌Erin Paré (R) ▌Abe Jones (D) ▌James Roberson (D) ▌Joe John (D) ▌Maria Cervania (D) ▌Marvin Lucas (D) ▌Diane Wheatley (R) ▌Charles Smith (D) ▌Frances Jackson (D) ▌Brenden Jones (R) ▌Jarrod Lowery (R) ▌Garland Pierce (D) ▌Cynthia Ball (D) ▌Renee Price (D) ▌John Sauls (R) ▌Ben Moss (R) ▌Howard Penny Jr. (R) ▌Robert Reives (D) ▌Mark Brody (R) ▌Allen Buansi (D) ▌Tracy Clark (D) ▌Amos Quick (D) ▌Alan Branson (R) ▌Cecil Brockman (D) ▌Pricey Harrison (D) ▌John Faircloth (R) ▌Stephen Ross (R) ▌Dennis Riddell (R) ▌Reece Pyrtle (R) ▌Sarah Crawford (D) ▌Wayne Sasser (R) ▌David Willis (R) ▌Dean Arp (R) ▌Brian Biggs (R) ▌Kanika Brown (D) ▌Amber Baker (D) ▌Diamond Staton-Williams (D) ▌Jeff Zenger (R) ▌Donny Lambeth (R) ▌Harry Warren (R) ▌Julia Craven Howard (R) ▌Neal Jackson (R) ▌Keith Kidwell (R) ▌Sam Watford (R) ▌Larry Potts (R) ▌Kristin Baker (R) ▌Kevin Crutchfield (R) ▌Jeffrey McNeely (R) ▌Dudley Greene (R) ▌Hugh Blackwell (R) ▌Destin Hall (R) ▌Mary Belk (D) ▌Mitchell Setzer (R) ▌Sarah Stevens (R) ▌Kyle Hall (R) ▌Terry Brown (D) ▌Ray Pickett (R) ▌Jeffrey Elmore (R) ▌Grey Mills (R) ▌Jay Adams (R) ▌Heather Rhyne (R) ▌John Bradford (R) ▌Nasif Majeed (D) ▌John Autry (D) ▌Carolyn Logan (D) ▌Becky Carney (D) ▌Laura Budd (D) ▌Brandon Lofton (D) ▌Wesley Harris (D) ▌Carla Cunningham (D) ▌Kelly Alexander (D) ▌John Torbett (R) ▌Donnie Loftis (R) ▌Kelly Hastings (R) ▌Tim Moore (R) ▌Tricia Cotham (R) ▌Jake Johnson (R) ▌Eric Ager (D) ▌Lindsey Prather (D) ▌Caleb Rudow (D) ▌Jennifer Balkcom (R) ▌Mark Pless (R) ▌Mike Clampitt (R) ▌Karl Gillespie (R)
▌Republican (72) ▌Democratic (48) North Carolina General Assembly North Carolina House of Representatives North Carolina Senate