GOP VICTORY!: Democrat Lawmaker Expected to Flip Parties Giving Supermajority

Tricia Cotham (D-NC), a member of the North Carolina legislature, may be the person to give the state Republican party a supermajority. She is expected to announce her switch of parties today at a press conference, according to Just The News. A Republican supermajority would mean that Governor Roy Cooper’s (D-NC) vetoes can be overridden by a simple partisan vote alone.

Representative Cotham was recently criticized by her fellow party members for missing a crucial vote on Governor’s veto of a Republican sponsored bill that scrapped the state’s pistol permitting system. The Associated Press (AP) referred to the bill as (in part) allowing “guns on some school properties where religious services are held.”  It also noted that it “eliminates the longstanding permit system requiring sheriffs to perform character evaluations and criminal history checks of pistol applicant.” That was the first time since 2018 that the Republican legislature overrode the Governor’s veto.

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The AP noted about the now enacted law that its supporters “say the sheriff screening process for handguns was no longer necessary in light of significant updates to the national background check system. They also argue the permit system wasn’t very effective at preventing criminals from obtaining guns. The North Carolina Sheriffs’ Association supports the repeal in light of national system updates, but its current president does not.”

The news outlet also noted that Mrs. Cotham was not the only Democrat to ditch voting on the veto override. Democrats Cecil Brockman (D-NC) and Michael Wray (D-NC) also did not vote.

Representative Cecil Brockman (D-NC) admitted that “I think she just wanted to do what’s best for her district and when you’re constantly talked about and trashed – especially the way that we have been over the past few weeks – I think this is what happens.” In effect Brockman accused the backlash to Cotham’s absence as behind her decision to defect from the party. Others are less understanding. Democratic minority leader Robert Reives called for Cotham’s resignation.

Governor Cooper is serving his second and final term which will expire in 2025. His lieutenant governor is, however, a Republican, Mark Robinson. Mr. Robinson is expected to announce his entry into the forthcoming gubernatorial race in 2024.