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RALEY, N.C. (AP) — Speculation is mounting in the North Carolina legislature that the Democrats are switching parties, giving Republicans a full no-veto majority in Congress. The move could affect immigration, abortion and voting laws.
Republicans scheduled Wednesday’s press conference with Mecklenburg County Rep. Tricia Cotham at party headquarters. House Speaker Tim Moore said on Tuesday that Cossam and her House leaders would “make an important announcement.”
If the Democrats switch parties, it would be a major political setback for Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper and his supporters in their attempts to thwart the governor’s last two years of conservative initiatives.
Republicans could be more likely to enact legislation to force sheriffs to work with federal immigration services and not count absentee ballots received after Election DayRepublicans are also debating whether and how to further restrict abortion.
Republicans already hold the 30 Senate seats they need to override the veto, but have been one seat short of a similar edge in the House since the November election.Cooper prevented the overwhelming majority His top priority campaign last fall.
Cozam, a former teacher and assistant principal, returned in January after nearly a decade in the House of Representatives until 2016.
She sat at her new desk on the House floor surrounded by Republicans for Tuesday’s late afternoon session. took her belongings from
After the floor session ended, Cotham walked away without answering questions from reporters and did not respond to text messages. Her Twitter account liked a post welcoming her participation in the House Republican caucuses.
Moore declined to comment on Tuesday when asked if Cozam had switched parties. Cossam’s voter registration information posted on the state election commission’s website late Tuesday listed her as a Democrat.
Republicans introduced a bill this year that Cooper successfully vetoed. So far, the governor has received enough Democratic votes to support a veto if party members get together to vote.
Last week, Congress successfully overturned one of Cooper’s vetoes. For the first time since 2018, it approved a bill that would partially repeal the state’s pistol permit-buying system. He did not sign this year’s bills, but allowed them to become law without his signature.
Cotham was one of three House Democrats who were absent during last week’s vote to invalidate the gun control bill. The absence meant that Republicans were able to meet the three-fifths majority threshold required to complete the override and advance the agenda.
Cotham said later that day that she did not support the repeal of the permit, but told both sides that she would be absent for the vote, citing hospital treatment scheduled. The absentee Democrats came under fire for what happened, leading at least one liberal-leaning group to announce plans to “hold them accountable” in 2024.
In the wake of news about Cozam’s possible party change, some Democratic leaders called for Cozam to resign from the House instead, with voters voicing her support for abortion rights, public education, and civil rights as a Democrat. He said he elected her based on her support.
Separately, Mr Cooper said Mr Cozam’s apparent change of party was a “disappointing decision”.
“Her votes on women’s reproductive freedom, election law, LGBTQ rights and strong public schools will determine the direction of the state we love,” Cooper said in a news release.
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