North Carolina State Rep. Tricia Cotham announced Wednesday morning that she changed political parties just three months after taking office – giving Republicans valuable veto-proof majority can be used to thwart Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper. That could have big consequences in a state where legislators and governors often clash — especially over the issue of abortion.
Once a pro-choice Democrat, Cotham said he is now open to restricting abortion care in his home state.
“This has been something I’ve been thinking about for a long time. I’ve seen the Democratic Party change a lot. When I came here and when I campaigned here, I believed I could make a change in the Democratic Party,” said Cotham, a first-time appointee. to fill the vacant seat in 2008, during a press conference Wednesday with Republican leaders in Raleigh. .
“I knew the first day I wasn’t welcome and they didn’t want me here. And it was very difficult and I still keep trying,” added Cotham. News of the decision was first reported by Axios Raleigh on Tuesday. Cotham did not immediately respond to HuffPost’s request for comment.
The move has sent shock waves through Democrats who have a fragile upper hand in maintaining abortion rights in the state. North Carolina has been a critical safe haven in the post-Roe v. Wade landscape, but now the pro-choice Cooper’s threat to veto any restriction that gets to the desk has essentially been rendered useless.
Currently, abortion is available through 20 weeks of pregnancy in North Carolina. Since federal abortion protections were repealed last year, about a dozen states in the South and Midwest have enacted bans on abortions, forcing North Carolina to accept an influx of patients traveling out of state for treatment. The Tar Heel State has seen a 37% increase in abortions since Roe fell – The largest percentage increase in any country.
Before Cotham’s change, Republicans had a supermajority in the Senate, controlling 30 of the 50 seats, and a majority in the House. Cotham’s decision gave Republicans in the House a supermajority, 72 of 120 seats, allowing state GOP leaders to push for abortion restrictions and eliminate the need for compromise.
Cotham has been a pro-choice advocate during his tenure in the North Carolina legislature. When Roe fell last year, he said he will “fight to codify Roe … and continue his strong record in defense of the right to vote.” He made good on that promise in January co-sponsor the bill to codify abortion protections alongside her fellow Democrats.
Now, Cotham says the opposite, telling local outlet WBTV he is open to bypassing abortion restrictions. House Speaker Tim Moore (R) told the outlet that Republicans are looking at a 12-week abortion ban with new veto-proof majority power.
“The point that most North Carolinians, in terms of consensus, is somewhere closer to the 12-week range. Personally, I support the heartbeat bill, but it seems that the vote is not there,” said Moore, referring to the six-week abortion ban.
Moore suggested during a press conference Wednesday that he has been in discussions with other North Carolina Democrats about changing party affiliations.
Cooper called Cotham’s decision “disappointing.”
“Rep. Cotham’s votes on women’s reproductive freedom, voting rights, LGBTQ rights and strong public schools will determine the direction of the country we love,” he said in a statement. “It’s hard to believe that he would abandon these long-standing principles and still have to vote. in the way that he has said that he will vote when the issue arises, regardless of party affiliation.”
Several other top Democrats in the state have called for Cotham’s immediate resignation, including the Democratic minority leader. Rep. Robert Reeves and Chairman of the state Democratic Party Anderson Clayton.
“This is fraud of the highest order,” Jane Whitley, Mecklenburg County Democratic Party Chairwoman, said. said in a statement also called for Cotham’s resignation.
North Carolina’s current legislative session ends in August, giving Republicans time to introduce new legislation on abortion.