In a week otherwise full of positive news for liberals, one spot has hit a nerve: a switch by one longtime Democratic North Carolina lawmaker to the GOP.
She sure puts the “heel” in “Tar Heel.”
Enjoy the rest of your term. You will not be re-elected for another.
Tricia Cotham was the obvious target for NC Republicans and I’m sure they made entreaties and offered her plenty of enticements to switch sides. I’m curious to see if Democrats can come up with a strategy to counter this persistent weakness.
Thanks for the backstory, Josh, the intrigue intensifies.
Wow, I’m really curious why these “several” dems missed this important vote, handing the GOP a veto-overcoming supermajority on gun legislation!
It gives them “plausible deniability” when the NRA and PACs attack them for being “anti-gun” in a purple-red state.
Yet, the article says at least the one that switched parties actually ran on gun control
It points out how tenuously the Dems hold onto power in NC and how they can be cajoled/pressured to capitulate. And with a Rep supermajority they are now practically powerless.
I’m not so sure about that. There are 4 very competitive districts in NC – 2 blue and 2 red. All 4 just barely. Maybe you’re right, but it’s not obvious to me. Would help to know who were the no-show dems. I didn’t follow that vote.
One interesting note: I read yesterday that AR-15s are now being manufactured in NC – apparently a recent factory move. Sort of suggests there might be some serious focus on that state
Corruption is not limited to Clarence Thomas.
Even out here, a four-hour drive west of Raleigh, there are very interesting whispers & rumors about possible why’s & wherefore’s.
Now all we need are some feathers.
This, from the Vice article, jumped out at me:
A former campaign adviser for Cotham, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told VICE News that Cotham is “a professional victim who takes responsibility for nothing and is now at home in the Republican Party.”
“She was upset that Democrats didn’t roll out a red carpet for her when she came back to the legislature after being a lobbyist for right-wing interests during the most consequential six years in American politics,” the former adviser said. “Then she was triggered by some tweets after she voted for a few bills that would directly harm her overwhelmingly Black and brown constituents. That’s absurdly all there is to it… there was no strategy behind it.”
Great work Josh. Was searching Google as I’ve lived in NC the past 21 years and found very little. Josh captured all the important points succinctly and very well written. Reminder to support TPM and especially the AF - or TPM as fuck as we know it!
Wow - I thought they were describing Sinema.
This is the move of a complete and total narcissist. She is neither a Dem or a Rep - she just belongs to the “me” party.
Hanging out with right-wing interests for 6 years has as much chance of brainwashing as a lot of exposure to Faux News.
Yes. Defeat Tricia Cotham in the next election in the most humiliating way possible.
Cotham doesn’t seem aware that party switchers don’t normally have long political careers in this country.
I was brought up not to say anything about someone unless it was good.
Tricia Cotham has Long Covid.
Good.
Cowardice?