Tricia Cotham: Difference between revisions
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==Personal life== |
==Personal life== |
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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 | WDBD FOX 40 Jackson MS Local News, Weather and Sports|date=April 5, 2023|website=fox40jackson.com}}</ref> |
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 | WDBD FOX 40 Jackson MS Local News, Weather and Sports|date=April 5, 2023|website=fox40jackson.com}}</ref> |
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==Electoral history== |
==Electoral history== |
Revision as of 13:53, 6 April 2023
Tricia Cotham | |
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Member of the North Carolina House of Representatives from the 112th district | |
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 | Charlotte, North Carolina, U.S. | November 26, 1978
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) |
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
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
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
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Tricia Cotham (incumbent) | 12,707 | 100% | |
Total votes | 12,707 | 100% | ||
Democratic hold |
2012
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Tricia Cotham (incumbent) | 24,217 | 100% | |
Total votes | 24,217 | 100% | ||
Democratic hold |
2010
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Tricia Cotham (incumbent) | 9,578 | 100% | |
Total votes | 9,578 | 100% | ||
Democratic hold |
2008
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 |
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.
- News & Observer: Black replacement will be youngest legislator[dead link]
- Charlotte Observer: Educator chosen to fill Black's old seat[dead link]
- Considered a traitor: NC Rep. Tricia Cotham leaves Democrats for GOP
External links
- 1978 births
- 21st-century American politicians
- 21st-century American women politicians
- Christians from North Carolina
- Republican Party members of the North Carolina House of Representatives
- Living people
- People from Matthews, North Carolina
- Politicians from Charlotte, North Carolina
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Education alumni
- Women state legislators in North Carolina