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

Democrat-turned-Republican Tricia Cotham, once a fervent supporter of abortion rights, voted along with every other Republican in the North Carolina state legislature Tuesday to override Gov. Roy Cooper's veto and enact tighter restrictions on abortion in the state.

Cotham, a representative from Mecklenburg County, has largely avoided the media after her much-publicized party switch in April, which gave Republicans a veto-proof major majority in the state House. She issued a lengthy statement Tuesday night on her vote to override Cooper's veto of SB20.

She called out "absolutists" on either side of the abortion debate, criticizing those who "believe abortion is unacceptable under any circumstance" and those who "believe aborting a perfectly healthy child in the 40th week of pregnancy is morally acceptable."

"After extensive review, I believe this bill strikes a reasonable balance on the abortion issue and represents a middle ground that anyone not holding one of the two extremist positions can support," Cotham said in her statement.

Earlier in her career, in 2015, she spoke of her own abortion on the floor of the House. She told Time Magazine at the time that some Republican lawmakers called her a "baby killer." In January, as a Democrat, she co-sponsored a bill to codify Roe v. Wade into state law.

She sought the endorsement of Planned Parenthood during her 2022 campaign, writing in a questionnaire that she had been an "unwavering advocate for abortion rights, and my legislative record attests to this." She further wrote that she would "oppose any legislation that restricts abortion access, including requiring waiting periods [or] other roadblocks."

But she voted for SB20, which limits elective abortions to the first 12 weeks of pregnancy, but does include a longer periods for victims of rape or incest, fetal abnormalities or when the life of the mother is endangered.

And, despite heavy lobbying by Cooper and abortion rights' activists, Cotham voted to override the governor's veto. She was among four Republicans targeted by Democrats, who needed just one GOP vote to sustain the veto.

"I — like most North Carolinians — think abortion is a complicated issue without absolute answers," Cotham said in her statement Tuesday after the override vote. "Abortion is an unpleasant subject for many women, and I know of no woman that considered having an abortion that did so flippantly or unseriously. Despite what some people on the fringes may claim, contemplating an abortion is a grave decision, not a choice I’ve ever known anyone to celebrate."'

Cotham defended herself against claims of hypocrisy, saying prospective mothers who found themselves in the same medical situation that necessitated her abortion would have access.

"Some call me a hypocrite since I voted for this bill," Cotham said. "They presume to know my story. As I said at the time, I had an ectopic pregnancy that sadly ended in miscarriage, not an elective abortion. In fact, Senate Bill 20 affirms the life-saving care I received in that dire situation. It was very important to me that this legislation protects all women going through a miscarriage or other complications — and it most certainly does."

Cotham said she "insisted" other measures to be included in the bill, like money for paid parental leave, foster care, contraception and community college tuition and job placement. The bill also includes restrictions on gun ownership by domestic abusers.