Tricia Cotham Coverage

Tricia Cotham, tornadoes and gender transitions: PolitiFact's top NC fact-checks of 2023

The most popular PolitiFact NC fact checks of the year fall into one of two categories: claims about liberal ambitions or explanations of unexpected events -- in and out of politics.

Paul Specht, PolitiFact reporter

Republican Tricia Cotham, NC lawmaker who switched parties, plans to seek reelection

North Carolina State Rep. Tricia Cotham plans to seek reelection, a spokesman for the House GOP says. A Democrat for years, Cotham faced criticism for joining the Republican Party in April.

Paul Specht, WRAL state government reporter

GOP lawmakers reject Cooper vetoes, enacting new laws for election oversight, looser environmental protections

From big changes in election laws to loosening environmental regulations, GOP state lawmakers voted Tuesday to override five vetoes by Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper.

Laura Leslie, Will Doran and Travis Fain, WRAL News

Fact check: Cotham says NC budget includes 'largest' ever income tax cut

In a Sept. 25 interview with WBT-FM radio, state Rep. Tricia Cotham of Mecklenburg County said the budget includes "the largest cut in our personal income tax that we've ever seen."

Paul Specht, PolitiFact reporter

Party-switching NC lawmaker claims 'political road rage' targeted her family

Tricia Cotham has been the subject of adulation from the right, and vitriol from the left, after she quit the Democratic Party and gave a supermajority to the GOP.

Will Doran, WRAL state government reporter

Inside the Party Switch that Blew Up North Carolina Politics

RALEIGH, N.C. — When Tricia Cotham, a former Democratic lawmaker, was considering another run for the North Carolina House of Representatives, she turned to a powerful party leader for advice. Then, when she jumped into the Democratic primary, she was encouraged by still other formidable allies.

Kate Kelly and David Perlmutt, New York Times

NC Democrats file bill to discourage party switching

North Carolina state legislators who change party registrations midterm could be subject to an early election to keep the seat, according to a bill filed Tuesday by Senate Democrats in response to Rep. Tricia Cotham's switch to the GOP two months ago.

North Carolina Democrats seek election, campaign changes after lawmaker switches to GOP

North Carolina state legislators who change party registrations midterm could be subject to an early election to keep the seat, according to a bill filed Tuesday by Senate Democrats in response to Rep. Tricia Cotham's switch to the GOP two months ago.

With abortion vote, did Tricia Cotham flip-flop on protecting reproductive rights?

North Carolina state Rep. Tricia Cotham voted to reduce the cutoff for many abortions from the 20th week of pregnancy to the 12th week. She previously said she would oppose "any attempt to restrict or deny women's basic health care needs."

Paul Specht, PolitiFact reporter

Some celebrate, others upset after party-line vote to restrict abortion access

The GOP-led legislature overturned Governor Roy Cooper's veto of SB 20, which will make abortions after 12 weeks illegal, with exceptions.

Cotham, once an abortion rights' advocate, votes for override, calls new law 'reasonable balance'

Rep. Tricia Cotham, whose party switch gave Republicans a veto-proof majority in the state House, voted to tighten abortion restrictions. Earlier this year, she called for codifying Roe v. Wade.

Brian Murphy, WRAL reporter

NC enacts tighter abortion restrictions after GOP-controlled legislature overrides veto of controversial bill

The first major victory for the GOP lawmakers' new supermajority yields North Carolina's biggest reduction in abortion access in decades.

Will Doran, WRAL state government reporter

Editorial: Votes of conscience should sustain Cooper's veto

Tuesday, May 16, 2023 -- When the North Carolina House of Representatives votes on whether to override Gov. Roy Cooper's veto of Senate Bill 20 - the 12-week abortion ban -- it will define at least one legislator and label two others.

DRAUGHON DRAWS: A closer look at Tricia Cotham

Saturday, May 13, 2023 -- Capitol Broadcasting Company's editorial cartoonist.

Fact check: Cooper says 4 Republicans promised to protect abortion rights

North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper said in a video posted to Twitter: "Republican legislators like Ted Davis and Michael Lee from Wilmington, John Bradford and Tricia Cotham from Mecklenburg County, made campaign promises to protect women's reproductive health."

Paul Specht, PolitiFact reporter

Gov. Cooper puts pressure on GOP lawmakers to flip abortion vote

The governor says he'll veto new abortion restrictions, but Republicans have a veto-proof majority in both houses of the General Assembly.

Cooper begins pressure tour, hoping to defend veto on abortion bill

The governor says he'll veto new abortion restrictions, but Republicans have a veto-proof majority in both houses of the General Assembly.

Matt Talhelm, WRAL reporter

Editorial: Pledges made on the campaign trail don't evaporate on Election Day

Tuesday, May 9, 2023 -- The contract between candidates and voters doesn't end in the voting booth. Voters, rightly, expect those who get their votes to deliver on their rhetoric when they get into office. Will these promise-makers be true to their words?

N.C. State Rep. Tricia Cotham

Mecklenburg County State Rep. Tricia Cotham giving a speech on April 23, 2015 on on the floor of the N.C. House of Representatives

Cooper looks to Cotham, moderate Republicans to help stop abortion limits

"All we need is one Republican, in either the House or the Senate, to support the situation on the veto," Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper told WRAL News in an interview Friday.

Will Doran, WRAL state government reporter

Checking 5 of NC Rep. Tricia Cotham's claims about NC Dems and why she switched parties

State Rep. Tricia Cotham cited mistreatment from Democrats as a reason she switched parties. Gov. Roy Cooper and other party leaders respond to some of her claims.

Paul Specht, PolitiFact reporter

Fact check: How did Democratic House leader respond to Tricia Cotham's missed vote?

State Rep. Tricia Cotham said that, a week before she switched parties, Minority Leader Robert Reives "sent out a statement ... encouraging us to resign and/or (face) a primary challenge."

Paul Specht, PolitiFact reporter

TRESSIE McMILLAN COTTOM: What a party switch in N.C. means for Democrats

Wednesday, April 26, 2023 -- I put Rep. Tricia Cotham's party switch in the broader context of a GOP bag of tricks to gut democratic rule by any means necessary. I cannot question Cotham's state of mind. ... But I can question the incentives the GOP offers to a candidate who is interested in building a personal political brand.

Tressie McMillan Cottom, New York Times

Bill to expand private school voucher eligibility filed in legislature, Rep. Cotham a sponsor

The bill said every student would be eligible for at least 45% of the average state expenditure per public school student.

Emily Walkenhorst, WRAL education reporter

Cotham, now with GOP, backs new Republican effort to ease charter school approvals

Rep. Tricia Cotham, who last week switched from the Democratic Party to the Republican Party, is among four GOP sponsors of House Bill 618, which was filed Thursday. It would remove the state board from decisions on charter school applications.

Brian Murphy and Emily Walkenhorst, WRAL reporters