Long-time Democrat Rep. Cotham explains why she changed parties
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To go get for seven
Tell us how we go
Come on in everybody
Well good morning as of yesterday this became the worst
kept secret in Raleigh
I think I want to welcome everyone here today with
us
We have a number of our colleagues of course here
standing with us as well as a lot of colleagues
here in the back
I'm very proud to be here today to join my
colleagues and my newest Republican colleague who will be making
an official announcement shortly to our caucus
You know I've had the pleasure of serving with Representative
Gotham since she was first elected in 2006
I've been here since 2002
I've served in the minority and I've served in the
majority
Let me tell you the majority is better
And I will tell you that even when I was
in the minority and representative coffin was in the majority
she was always one of the most bipartisan members who
would work with us a great deal
Dan probably can speak to that when he comes up
as well
But it was amazing to me that in the in
the last few weeks the conversations that I had with
Representative Kat and it did seem that she like so
many were seeing that perhaps she didn't have as much
of a home in her former party as she did
One of the things that we pride ourselves on as
Republicans is that we always tell our caucus members vote
your conscience vote your district and then vote with your
caucus
That's a Hallmark
We have and you can see that regularly
We had a vote what three weeks ago on the
Medicaid bill where our caucus was split
But you know what we had our vote everybody had
their peace and we moved on
Nobody attacked each other in the media nobody went after
each other
We understand that having a big tent with ideas across
the spectrum is what makes not just a party healthy
but it's what makes governing effective because North Carolina is
that way
And the new modern face of the Republican party is
one that represents the values and the views of most
of North Carolina
So in the last few weeks as I was talking
with Representative Cotham I got a sense that she was
unhappy felt like she was having to vote against her
conscience in a lot of ways
And so you told her that we'd love to have
you
And by the way she's not the only Democrat that
we've had great conversations with
And because I think a lot of folks you just
see it as a national move where folks realize that
that that there's this wokeness whatever you want to call
it has pervaded in a lot of ways
And there are a lot of folks on the other
side of the aisle I think who are frustrated within
their own party
But knowing representative Kathan knowing her commitment to Mecklenburg County
and to North Carolina she put she put policy over
politics
She has been very principled
And so when she expressed an interest in talking with
us of course I said yes
And we are honored today to have with us our
newest member of the Republican caucus Representative Tricia
No good morning
And thank you for being here
I am I am a single mom of two amazing
sons a teacher a small business owner a woman with
strong faith a national championship basketball coach and a public
servant
Today I add Republican to that list
I have decided to change my party affiliation joining the
Republican party and have been welcomed with open arms by
my colleagues
And I'm glad to call you all my colleagues
As long as I have been a Democrat the Democrats
have tried to be a big tent but this is
now where we are
Modern day Democratic Party has become unrecognizable to me and
to so many others throughout this state
And this country the party wants to villainize anyone who
has free thought free judgment has solutions who wants to
get to work to better our state not just sit
in a meeting and have a workshop after a workshop
but really work with individuals to get things done because
that's what real public servants do
If you don't do exactly what the Democrats want you
to do
They will try to bully you they will try to
cast you aside
I saw that when I first filed for office and
was told why didn't you ask for our permission I
didn't think I needed to do that as a female
And quite frankly I was offended
But when I came back to this legislature I knew
times were different and things had changed
I also knew that I was different
I had been through a lot in life
And so I am just different too and I'm proud
of that
It became very clear to me early on in January
that you better vote in line with everything Governor Cooper
tells you to do from signing on to bills to
he wanted to pick your seat on the house floor
to your committee request
All of this sense of control
I will not be controlled by anyone
I have always been a free thinker a woman of
faith a person of independent judgment and of common sense
I have always tried to work across the aisle from
day one and I'm proud of that work because that
means we are working together as statesmen and States women
Unfortunately that is talk in the Democratic Party
That that's a good thing
But there is little action when it comes to that
And if I do that I was considered a traitor
I was told a spy please don't come to caucus
You'll tell everything
We know that is a terrible mentality and that's just
wrong of what's happening in politics
I've suffered many attacks since I've been up here from
Democrats in the party from blasting me on Twitter to
calling me names to going after my family going after
my Children
That is wrong
And I will not stand for that
I will not be bullied by them and I will
protect my Children and my family
One of the absolute worst moments which was a deal
breaker
A turning point for me was when I was criticized
for using the American flag and the praying hands emoji
on all my social media platforms and even on the
back of different vehicles that I have I really could
not believe that was the conversation that was happening at
that time
And I was deeply offended
I am proud to be an American
I am proud of our country
I'm proud of the men and women in my family
who have served to say that that is wrong and
not to be able to show off a flag because
the others hijack it for something else
Why are we at this place in politics that is
really unacceptable and needs to change I want to be
a part of that change agent for the greater good
of our state for the greater good of all the
public servants behind me and all back there
I firmly believe that it is my responsibility as a
legislator to learn everything I can to ask questions to
hear perspectives before deciding how to vote
When did Democrats become so afraid of independent thought because
they're definitely not encouraging it at all
Perhaps they don't like what they can't control
It became very clear to me this was about control
on day one at the legislature they picked the wrong
chick for that
They have pushed me out
They have made it very clear from the day I
filed back in March of last year that they did
not want me and tried to do everything they could
to defeat me
They have lied on me
Women in the house caucus have said vicious and started
vicious rumors that are very hypocritical of other stances that
they make attacking me on Twitter in person to my
face attacking my mother and saying something to my boys
that is wrong and hypocritical
Some have sent threatening messages to me Interest groups and
lobbying groups that are aligned with the Democratic Party have
directly sent messages to my 12 year old son and
that needs to stop
And it's not just spend one time
One of the worst moments was when I took my
little boy to Target and you know you go to
Target it inspires you
You see what you might need to buy
You never know
And so we were exploring different things looking at R
C cars and Nerf guns and out of nowhere a
woman came and she cussed me out up and down
screaming at me trying to remain composure in that moment
But most importantly protecting my son my baby and for
him to have to witness that and see how a
grown woman would act and try to even explain it
was wrong
But Children teach us the best lessons and they really
help us in moments like this because my son used
my ipad and wrote me the sweetest note
I don't even know how to write notes on my
ipad
I'm sure he can teach me but just encouraging me
he recognized this and said how wrong it was
Those are just a few events go on Twitter right
now
See all the threats against me
See the hypocrisy see the attack lines inciting encouraging violence
on me
That's what's happening
It's all over right now so they can keep bullying
me
People say does it bother you It bothers me that
they're hypocritical
Yes this is not the place for politics
This doesn't help women in politics because they have a
tendency even though they say they're the party of women
they certainly will slice and dice you in a second
with malicious vicious untrue rumors and do not celebrate your
success
And these women behind me from day one we have
become very close
These are my girls as I like to say
But I am lucky now to be a part of
a real group of men and women who believe in
me
I'm not a politician I'm no longer a democrat but
I remain a public servant
That is what I am called to do
The party that best represents me and my principles and
what's best for North Carolina is the Republican party
It's an honor to be here today
I thank you all so very much
Glad to be on the team
Yeah
Next next we'll hear from Congressman Bishop and thank you
Mr Speaker and uh sorry my appearance somewhat detracts from
the moment
I um I tore my Achilles tendon on Sunday playing
a very ill advised for a senior game of pickle
ball
But as I left the house this morning and Joe
was asking me whether I thought I really should travel
to Raleigh
And I said it's going to take a lot more
than this to keep me away from this moment
I've been friends with Tricia Cotham even though we've been
political opponents for many years
I've been good friends with her mother who is now
I think in her sixth or seventh term on the
Board of County Commissioners in Mecklenburg County where I served
one time and we have been in disagreement over political
issues from time to time but we've always remained friends
and I'm glad to be here with a friend today
and I'm honored I think Trisha is making the right
decision
But I can tell you one thing she is a
strong woman a strong leader
And I intend I've lived in Mecklenburg County as Trisha
has all my life until recently I've moved to Waa
but I still my entire life has been in Mecklenburg
County and I can tell you this Trisha coin is
going to get all the support she needs in Mecklenburg
County and it will be for me personally I can
guarantee that too
We probably still will have disagreements from time to time
But this latest development in which the two major parties
or a major party cannot abide dissenters even on particular
issues within its ranks is something that is bad for
America
I've never seen that in the Republican Party
We've had our conversations internally our debates and we'll certainly
continue to do that
But but my presence here today is simply to a
vote of confidence for a good friend who's always managed
to keep the priorities in the right order
That and at the top of the list is civility
and service and everything comes subordinate to that
So Trisha congratulations to you
Welcome
And I'm delighted to be here with you today
and now I hobble out of the way to Senator
Berger
So Phil Berger I'm here on behalf of the Republican
Senate caucus and we are pleased as we can be
to represent
Welcome Representative Cotham to the Republican Party
You know we've known over the years that she is
someone that is that independent thinker someone who makes her
decisions based on what she thinks is right makes her
decisions based on what she thinks is best for her
constituents
And it is an unfortunate thing that she is now
sort of the latest in a long line of folks
who can come before the public and say you know
I didn't really leave the Democratic Party
It left me and there are a lot of folks
in North Carolina that feel exactly the same way
It's one of the reasons that the Democratic Party in
North Carolina continues to lose members in ways that are
just historic in nature
Um I I've done a little reading over the last
couple of days
I've seen some of the stuff that's on Twitter
I don't blame you
I wouldn't want to be associated with those people either
Um It's um uh it is uh one of the
uh the things that uh is unfortunate and representative uh
bishop touched on it that the uh the Democratic party
seems to value ideological purity and adherence to whatever the
superior individuals the governor or someone else in the party
says is the right way to think and that is
not the American way and that is something that will
continue to lead to further dissipation of membership in the
Democratic Party
So Trisha welcome
So glad to have you with the Republican caucus
So glad for you to now be with where you
are philosophically and where you are intellectually
So thank you
Thank you
I'm Senator Vicky Sawyer and here on behalf of the
Republican women to welcome our newest edition Trisha Cotham
You know at a time when folks who elect us
ask for their representatives to work across the aisle for
the good of their district and to focus on making
results and not headlines
Trisha stood up for the call in a short time
back at the general assembly
She quickly rose to be one of the top legislators
in the general assembly and the most powerful democratic legislator
in the Charlotte region for her efforts
She was rewarded with being shunned by her party vilified
by her caucus and bullied by other women
Bullying is so bad that I haven't seen the likes
since I sat in 6th grade at M
Caldwell's class at fall middle school
No I welcome Representative Gotham to the Republican Party now
we aren't perfect
In fact we're a long way from that
But what I can promise you is that we have
room for an independently minded strong willed woman who represents
her constituents
Well a woman who embodies what it means to govern
and not to be governed
Welcome
Representative
Next is our majority leader John be hey good morning
everyone
And uh and I'll be uh brief in my remarks
because like the house has already been said just not
everyone has said it
So we're gonna make sure that we say it
But uh yesterday afternoon the speaker and I had the
uh the the pleasure of introducing the 72nd member of
the North Carolina House Republican caucus Representative Trisha Cotham
And today we get to officially welcome her to the
caucus
The speaker said it very clear in our caucus freedom
and liberty and independent thinking is valued
You vote your conscience you vote your constituency
And if you can you vote your caucus We believe
in that we like strong minded people with opinions various
backgrounds and various ways of life to come into our
caucus
We work hard to recruit those type of candidates to
run as Republicans which is the reason we've been extremely
successful over the last 12 years
Represent I respect your bravery
You have a backbone
There is no doubt I respect your independency and I
want to officially welcome you as a 72nd member
That's a super majority in case you're keeping count of
the House Republican Caucus
Congratulations and welcome
Next is Representative saying our conference leader great to be
with you all today and certainly great to support my
friend Trisha Cotham first and foremost
As soon as I got to the house I was
appointed uh sat very near Trisha on the floor and
quickly just you meet people and they're they're so friendly
and it doesn't matter their party it's about people and
it's about the individual and everything that we do these
these elected members here in this audience everything that we
do is about people and we should never lose sight
of that
And my colleague whether she's a Democrat or a Republican
will never lose sight of that
I always tell our freshmen when they come in
One of the things that you must do is always
always be effective and represent your constituents whether Trisha Cotham
is a Democrat or Republican
I know for a fact she is going to look
out for the best interest of her constituents
So to the people in her district they need to
hear that she is the same today as she was
yesterday and she's a strong willed smart intelligent leader period
And we are glad to welcome you to the Republican
party
I wanted her to come for a long long time
because she has been so effective and such an ally
in the house
We love you and we're certainly going to love having
you in our caucus
You know a couple of weeks ago as these attacks
have happened to Representative Gotham
I've watched someone who's normally smiling someone who's normally happy
have a little concern on their face
You know something just wasn't right
And and as we talk through it as friends not
as party people as friends I told her we would
always have your back because we're friends first
And so she just joins a large group of already
made friends and making new ones
So I am glad to serve in a party that
welcomes Representative Trista Cotham
Thank you represent
and Representative Hall our Dustin hall our rules chair for
any comments
Again I won't echo what everybody else has said but
I am as pleased as everyone else that we have
72 members
Now Trisha Cotham has been someone who is reasonable who
is moderate who we've been able to work with in
this her principles and her views have not changed
What has changed is the Democratic Party in North Carolina
As Senator Berger said she hasn't left the party the
party has left her and it is leaving reasonable people
behind
We've heard a lot about that today but one thing
that I think is particularly troubling some of the misogynistic
and sexist accusations that have been put forth against Representative
Cotham is absolutely despicable
I hope that our friends in the media will call
some of that out from some of the folks who
have made those accusations but we move forward not worrying
about that
As leader Bell said this lady has a backbone
She's going to get through it
We're going to get through it and we're going to
continue to enact great policy from North Carolina
One final speaker before we start taking questions
Um There is a man who served for years here
in the North Carolina House who not only is a
colleague but a close friend who has served Mecklenburg County
well served North Carolina
Well and who is neighbors with representative I invite representative
Bill Brawley to come up and make a few comments
Bill Bill
Well fortunately I'm a moderately well good extemporaneous speaker because
I didn't know I was speaking
I wasn't even sure I was going to be up
front
The one thing I can say is you heard Trisha
talk about the things that happened to her and happened
to her Children and you're sitting there wondering is it
really that bad in Mecklenburg County It is because it
happened to my Children too and other Republican representatives have
had their Children attacked in the same way
One in the western part of the state
It was so bad that he paid to move his
ex wife and his Children out of the county that
he represented to get his Children out of the school
system where they were harassed by their teachers
It's not something you've covered but it's real
So when she tells you why she had to leave
I can say from my own experience
It does in fact happen
Thank you
Mhm So with that you've heard a lot of great
uh great comments not only from from representative but from
her colleagues
Uh and you actually got Senator Berger and I up
here at the same time too that's a great thing
So I'm gonna let her be the the Burger Whisperer
I think I'm gonna send her over there
Uh but and one of the things about her independent
nature is and and you know there may be times
that uh representative may have to look at me and
say speaker I don't agree with your position and you
know what that'll be fine because
it's not an idea for him
But with that uh we'll be glad to take questions
if you would if you would if you have a
question identify yourself and to whom you would like the
uh question addressed
So uh Representative County Democratic Party came out um Big
Democrat Party out of DC came out called you traitor
said you should resign position
They're gonna be holding a press conference today talking about
you
What are your thoughts about that That's why they're not
in power when they treat individuals like that
Um You can't have everybody just can't be the same
and do the exact same thing and agree the exact
same way on every issue
What happened to the concept of a big tent party
What happened when we hear these ideas of we're inclusive
we're tolerant
We're so welcoming to everybody
No you're not
You are welcoming until you don't go with every thing
and there's no room for negotiation
It's everything that is scripted
So I'm not surprised at all
And I think the country is getting sick and tired
of that
I'm not going to fit into a box
I'm not here to push a button just because someone
tells me to and any legislator who shares that idea
that they are here just to push a button
You are irrelevant
You need to be a person who can think for
his or herself
And that's disappointing
Instead of recognizing the strength of so many they want
to pick on their own and do as much damage
as possible but they will not damage me representative to
uh Brian Anderson reporter
I had a question
Uh there's been a lot of concern from the Democratic
Party uh about the future of abortion restrictions in the
state
And I know you've previously shared your emotional personal story
on the house floor back in 2015
How do you think about this issue going forward And
when you support a 13 week ban except in cases
of rape incest in life I'm not going to give
any type of number on anything
There's a piece of good advice I learned from a
long time ago
Don't discuss legislation
That's not before you
So I'm not going to do that
As the speaker said as Senator Berger said I am
still the same person and I am going to do
what I believe is right and follow my conscience
I'm not going to be bullied around by those groups
and they know it
That's why they were the first to start these attacks
on me from the very beginning
I'm going to vote my conscience
I'm going to listen to others
I'm gonna ask their opinion
I'm gonna ask why
But most importantly I'm gonna look inside and I'm gonna
pray on this issue and I know that's where I
will find the answer as I do on everything
But it seems like views changed on abortion rights since
you returned to the legislature or even since you ran
as a candidate last year I'm still the same person
who I am
If you go back into my history you will note
I was never someone that this was the biggest issue
facing women in North Carolina
I believe women are much more
We're business owners we help create economies we raise families
we carry it all
And so to be tried just so that tragic hard
topic is wrong because women are greater
And like I stated I'm not going to go with
say there's a week here or a week there
I'm not going to do that
And really no one should
There's not a bill before us right now
I'm going to research the bill
I will talk to others
I will have these internal dialogues very very much Leslie
from w what did I say to the constituents who
elected you as a Democrat believing that you were going
to uphold these democratic issues like abortion like LGBT Q
rights
Well what has really changed I still am going to
stand strong on my convictions but I'm not going to
be pigeon holed into any one particular issue
And I made that very clear in our conversations that
there are just some things I'm not changing on and
you know but we also need to just stop all
the narrative and the Vivitrol that I've seen when I
was a Democrat on Republicans you know maybe getting to
know people and not just reading that whatever rumor and
something that is posted on Twitter actually get to know
people and talk to them and try and have a
dialogue
I've changed my positions on things throughout the years
And that made me a better legislator because I was
willing to listen to do my homework to do research
outside to rely on policy experts in the in the
party all over
But we should all be able to evolve and we
should not be shamed for learning new perspectives at all
Mary Jones from news
Did you speak with Representative Reeves or anyone in democratic
leadership That I think when Representative Lee Reeves sent out
a statement last week encouraging us to resign and or
a primary challenge really showed the low blow of where
we are in this institution
It's never been like this here
I've never known a minority leader or a majority leader
and I think Senator Berger would back me up on
that to directly call for a member of his or
her own caucus
He's never talked to me all session
I've tried I've reached out I've offered to help so
I guess he gets his wish Mr Speaker Bill
I I you point to a piece of legislation that
you think this switch will make a difference
You know I I can't say for certain we have
had uh I've been using the term earlier of a
governing super majority and and we've had that and we
of course now we have an outright super majority
It makes it a little easier by the way
Uh But we have really worked very hard to work
across the aisle to the to the handful of centrist
democrats who were there to try to build policy agreements
to have discussions
And so there are I would suspect for example our
budget that we're working on I already expected pretty well
broad support of that when we get there
I think that will continue
But you know as far as other specific bills I
don't want to get too much into that and go
there
But I just think it's a lot of the weighty
issues
Many of you have interviewed me on this before
I've told you on a lot of issues that are
going to come before us
I have felt all along that we will have a
super majority and I still feel that we will have
even with Representative Kaufman
Now giving us an outright Republican super majority
It will still be my goal to get folks to
vote on the other side of the aisle for a
number of policy initiatives
I'd rather not get into specifics right now
But I think in the coming in the coming weeks
you'll start seeing as we move through as we're doing
you'll see that
And I would predict today that you will see a
strong bipartisan support of our state budget and that that
is something that is no small feat
So I think you will see us continue to build
upon that Matt Mercer most state journal Representative Ham
I think there's a misconception among some of the media
outlets that you hear that this was just about the
veto override vote last week
Can you lay out the timeline from when you first
announced you were going to seek to return to the
legislature to this book Um See you know I left
the legislature for deeply personal and family reasons
Um wanted to get my child off to school and
start kindergarten and had other things going on and I
needed that break
Um And that break was really good for me
And when COVID hit you may not know I was
hit three times severely by COVID very very sick
The last time I was really I was in the
hospital when I learned about this new seat
I was so out of it that you know with
my health at that time
So I didn't exactly know that she said there were
new seats and just really prayed about it and thought
you know is this is this what I'm doing God
because I thought I was doing something over here
And then it just was like this perfect amazing opportunity
And in politics you have to be able to take
risks
And a lot of people can't do that
You have to be able to step out there and
have courage and try and also accept the fact that
if you lose as long as you stick to your
principles and what you believe in you are a winner
And so that was the start of this when I
came to the legislature
Of course after Thanksgiving and after December we have a
whole lot of people who want to catch up and
talk
Um and some warned me about the toxicity and the
nastiness was the word used repeatedly that I would encounter
I do believe in giving everybody a fair chance
And so the on the first and only caucus meeting
I attended I just did what I've always done and
who I am
I brought a spread of cookies and treats and snacks
and drinks and really trying to be a part of
the team and wanted to help with freshmen
And at that meeting I was labeled a freshman I
was assigned a freshman mentor
Um I'm usually the one who mentors freshmen and I
was told no
And then I heard a lot of other things about
whoever is chair of committees will have these what's called
shadow chairs
And that that person shadows the often except for three
Republican chair to do all this work and research and
report back to the caucus
And then there were all these work groups and work
groups
And I kept asking what are you doing about real
policy A work group a small group a talking group
How does that equate to getting something done in North
Carolina and for helping our Children read better How does
that help No one seemed to really have that idea
It was just more about a meeting after meeting policy
after policy
But to know in result I am a results oriented
person
I was raised by two entrepreneurs and I am very
proud of both of my parents and for the hard
work that they put up in this life build a
big family business
So there's very different schools of thought
I'm certainly not going to be told what color to
wear on certain days
I'm not going to be told that my hair is
too long
I'm not going to be fashion policed by Democratic women
It's extremely hypocritical doing that and it just kept turning
you know I was appointed a gavel which was not
my first time having a gale
Um And instead of that being seen as any rational
individual would see that this could be good
We should be proud
I was shunned
I was called a traitor
You can't trust her
And then a shadow chair placed on me on issues
like school choice like charters we have to evolve and
I believe that the state is changing especially after what
they saw and experienced first hand in their home with
COVID and learning one size fits all and education is
wrong for Children
It might be ok for adults but I am about
Children
And so it was very disheartening when the Democrat Party
didn't really want to talk about Children
They had talking points from adults and adult organizations and
so many other issues not understanding what it really means
to have a small business
One thing that is very bothersome to me is trying
to be an elitist to look down on people to
look down on our farmers and agriculture
When agribusiness is our number one business in this state
to ridicule to if you don't support me
If you're not along with this then you are over
here and we are done with you
No room for thought
And you know I really started praying on this issue
I really started reflecting and I'm the type of person
I do this all on my own and then when
my decision is made up I'll tell others
Um so you had an interesting day and um you
know but that is the story I've not changed overnight
despite the terrible ads that that the vicious vile words
used to me
I'm still them
I've always been since day one here
Some people do can't accept a bold strong woman who
is an independent thinker who works across the aisle and
wants to get things done for the state of North
Carolina and for her district
And I'm happy to stand in these high heels on
that representative Gotham Lucille Sherman
Um ah hello
Hi
Hi
I just have one question for you
Um when did you when was the first time you
thought about changing your party affiliation What was that When
was that moment You know I can't point to a
specific day or moment but like I just said a
lot of things start to line up a lot of
frustrations
A lot of things I would tell people you are
not going to believe this
And there are so many times I had to make
that statement and honestly that was hard
I want political parties of any party to be the
best
I want to believe that people want to actually come
here and govern and do real work and look for
solutions not just do what I call a post and
a pick that's not leading that's not being a legislator
And this is something I rely very heavily on my
faith which was also something that was discouraged by the
Democrats that I am a very devout religious person
And I take pride in that and God works in
mysterious ways and on his timing and not ours
And so Mr Speaker uh right now Representative Ham is
in a safe Democratic district
Do you expect that to change So we have made
no determinations of what we are going to do on
redistricting but we do intend to redistrict the House to
to redistrict the Senate and to redistrict the congressional seat
So of course when districts are drawn incumbency is always
taken into account but beyond that there's been no determination
made
Thank you
Thank you all for coming today
Yeah I got