Patricia Ann Cotham (born November 26, 1978) is an American politician, lobbyist and former schoolteacher. She is a member of the North Carolina House of Representatives from the 112th district, based in Mecklenburg County.
Cotham represented the 100th district in the North Carolina House of Representatives from 2007 to 2017 as a Democrat. She was elected as a Democrat in 2022 to represent District 112. Cotham formally changed her affiliation to the Republican Party on April 5, 2023, granting the North Carolina House Republicans a supermajority. Prior to her party switch, Cotham had campaigned on a traditional Democratic Party platform and had voted for abortion rights legislation. Shortly after her party switch, Cotham cast the deciding vote for legislation to restrict abortion access in North Carolina.
Career
In March 2007, Cotham was appointed to represent the 100th district in the North Carolina House of Representatives to replace Rep. James B. Black, who had resigned. She was elected to the House in 2008, and was re-elected in 2010, 2012, and 2014. Cotham was co-chair of the House's K-12 Education subcommittee...