North Carolina State Representative Tricia Cotham has claimed re-election to the General Assembly’s District 105 seat, a victory that marks her first full term as a Republican after a contentious party switch earlier this year. The announcement of her win on November 15 coincided with news of an emergency surgery that left the lawmaker recovering in an undisclosed medical facility.
Cotham’s chief of staff, Carl Gilmore, confirmed the surgery in a statement, describing her as “resting in recovery.” While details of the procedure remain private, the lawmaker has previously spoken about her ongoing battle with long-COVID, which she said had persisted for over two years. In 2022, Cotham revealed she was managing symptoms with a combination of medications and inhalers, making her current health challenges a point of concern among her supporters.
Election results certified Friday show Cotham narrowly defeating Democrat Nicole Sidman by a margin of 216 votes, with 27,303 votes to Sidman’s 27,087. The tight race has prompted Sidman to request a recount, citing the potential for tabulation errors to impact the outcome. “While the chances of a recount changing the outcome are low, it takes just one tabulation error to be the difference,” Sidman said in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Cotham, who declared victory early Wednesday morning, thanked her supporters on social media, saying, “With all precincts reporting, I am thrilled to have been re-elected to another term in the NC House. Thank you for all of your support, and I look forward to representing YOU for another term.”
Her re-election solidifies her role in the Republican-controlled legislature, where her controversial party switch in April 2023 delivered the GOP a supermajority. The decision allowed Republicans to override Democratic Governor Roy Cooper’s vetoes on key legislative priorities, including tighter abortion restrictions and the expansion of the private school voucher program.
The race for District 105, redrawn in 2022 to favor Republicans, remained competitive. Nearly half of the district’s voters are registered Democrats, and Sidman’s campaign leaned heavily on door-knocking and phone banking to overcome the district’s Republican tilt. Cotham, by contrast, largely avoided public forums and media appearances during the campaign.
Cotham’s party switch earlier this year drew sharp criticism from Democrats, many of whom accused her of betraying her base. The move was particularly controversial as Cotham had run as a Democrat in 2022, securing her seat before announcing her alignment with the Republican Party just five months into her term. Her decision was a pivotal moment in North Carolina politics, shifting the balance of power in the General Assembly and enabling Republicans to push through a series of contentious legislative changes.
Her narrow victory reflects the deep polarization in District 105 and the broader political landscape of North Carolina. The final recount results could still impact the race, though Sidman acknowledged the low likelihood of overturning the current margin.
As Cotham recovers from her medical procedure, she faces a new term marked by heightened scrutiny, ongoing health challenges, and the responsibility of navigating her role as a key figure in the GOP’s supermajority. The certified election results, however, reaffirm her position as one of the most influential and polarizing legislators in the state.
