NC House District 105 · Incumbent
Tricia Cotham
Republican · Democrat until 2023-04
The basics
- NC House District 100, 2007–2017 (Democrat)
- NC House District 112, 2023–2024 (Democrat → Republican (Apr 2023))
- NC House District 105, 2025–present (Republican)
- Vice-chair, House Health
Career
- Pre-2007Teacher and assistant principal, Charlotte-area public schools
- 2007Appointed NC House 100 (replaced Jim Black); re-elected 2008–2014
- 2016Lost NC-12 Democratic primary to Alma Adams; left House 2017
- 2019Co-founded lobbying firm BCHL; president, Achievement for All Children
- 2022Elected NC House 112 as a Democrat
- 2023-04Switched to Republican Party
- 2024Won HD 105, 27,303 to 27,087 (Nicole Sidman)
- 2026Won GOP primary 84.53% over Kelly VanHorn
Funding and PACs
Campaign committee · STA-07985B-C-002
$126,830
itemized receipts
| Donor type | Amount |
|---|---|
| Individual | $74,163 |
| Industry PAC | $32,126 |
| Politician committee | $20,541 |
Source: NC State Board of Elections, committee STA-07985B-C-002, 2025-01-01 to 2026 Q2 · retrieved 2026-10-22
Outside spending in this race
STA-TG467D-C-001
Neighbors Helping NC, Inc (IE PAC)
Sponsor: NC Realtors. Spending to support Tricia Cotham. Observed: SMS to voters, 2026-10-22.
| Its reported funders | Amount |
|---|---|
| NC Association of Realtors | $1,576,705 |
| National Association of Realtors Fund | $746,940 |
Source: NCSBE transaction search
Record in office: what they said, what they did
6 of 10 promises kept or partly kept. Context items are not scored.
- Abortion & healthcareReversed
Said: 2022: “unwavering and unapologetic in their support of abortion rights”; mailer pledged to stand against “any attempt to restrict” women’s health care
Did: May 2023: voted for the 12-week abortion limit and cast the deciding vote to override Gov. Cooper’s veto
PolitiFact rated it a “Full Flop”
Source: PolitiFact 2023-05-17; claim: 2022 tweet and mailer · retrieved 2026-10-22
- Abortion & healthcareContext
Said: Current Republican platform
Did: Primary sponsor of a bill to cut Planned Parenthood’s Medicaid funding (WFAE, 2026)
Opposite of her 2022 Democratic positions
Source: WFAE voter guide 2026-09-22 · retrieved 2026-10-22
- Abortion & healthcareKept
Said: Protect access to IVF
Did: Sponsored a bill protecting access to in-vitro fertilization; vice-chair of House Health committee
Source: WFAE voter guide 2026-09-22 · retrieved 2026-10-22
- Education & schoolsKept
Said: Expand Opportunity Scholarships so “every student” gets a quality education regardless of income
Did: Primary sponsor of HB 823 (2023), which opened private-school vouchers to all K-12 families
Before 2023 she was rated an “A+ legislator” by the NC teachers’ association
Source: NC General Assembly HB 823 (2023); claim: triciacotham.net · retrieved 2026-10-22
- Education & schoolsPartly kept
Said: “Voted to raise teacher pay, increase classroom funding”
Did: 2026 budget deal gives teachers ~8% average raises; it came about 10 months late and teacher groups say it still trails the national average
Her vote on the final 2026 budget not confirmed
Source: WRAL May 2026 budget deal; claim: triciacotham.net · retrieved 2026-10-22
- Taxes & economyOverstated
Said: “Passed a state tax cut of over 40%”
Did: Personal income tax rate has fallen from 4.99% (2022) to 3.99% (2026), about 20%; reaching ~40% depends on cuts scheduled out to 2033
Source: NC Dept. of Revenue rate schedule; WRAL May 2026; claim: triciacotham.net · retrieved 2026-10-22
- Taxes & economyUnclear
Said: “Fighting inflation”
Did: No specific bill tied to this claim found
Source: Claim: triciacotham.net, BallotReady · retrieved 2026-10-22
- Taxes & economyKept
Said: Regional transportation
Did: Sponsored the bill letting Mecklenburg raise sales tax 1 cent for transportation; it did not fund the Silver Line to Matthews
Kept as sponsor. Some Matthews residents objected
Source: WUNC/WFAE 2026-10-15 · retrieved 2026-10-22
- Public safetyKept
Said: Make it harder to release repeat violent offenders
Did: Championed Iryna’s Law on pretrial release
Source: WUNC/WFAE 2026-10-15 · retrieved 2026-10-22
- Public safetyKept
Said: Sheriffs cooperate with immigration officials
Did: Voted for the requirement
Source: triciacotham.net; WFAE 2026-09-22 · retrieved 2026-10-22
- Transparency & fundingReversed
Said: Elected in Nov 2022 as a Democrat in a Democratic-leaning district
Did: Switched to Republican in April 2023, giving the GOP a veto-proof House majority
Her stated reason: harassment from fellow Democrats
Source: NC Newsline 2023-04-13; WRAL 2023-04 · retrieved 2026-10-22
2026 campaign promises
Logged the day they were made and tracked through the term if elected. Verdicts come at the end of the term, with the evidence linked.
- Taxes & economy · logged 2026-10Logged
“Property tax relief for families.”
What we will check: Bills she sponsors or votes for that lower or cap residential property tax, and whether they pass.
Source: Hoodline / WFAE, Oct 16 2026 · retrieved 2026-10-22
- Taxes & economy · logged 2026-10Logged
“Cap the personal income tax.”
What we will check: Her votes on an income tax cap, by statute or constitutional amendment.
Source: Hoodline / WFAE, Oct 16 2026 · retrieved 2026-10-22
- Taxes & economy · logged 2026-10Logged
“Lower energy bills.”
What we will check: Bills and votes on utility rates and Duke Energy rate cases; change in average residential bills.
Source: Hoodline / WFAE, Oct 16 2026 · retrieved 2026-10-22
- Taxes & economy · logged 2026Too vague to check
“Fighting inflation.”
What we will check: Ask the campaign which actions this refers to and log the answer.
Source: triciacotham.net; BallotReady · retrieved 2026-10-22
- Public safety · logged 2026-10Logged
Keep violent repeat offenders from being released again.
What we will check: Follow-up bills to Iryna’s Law and her votes on pretrial release.
Source: Hoodline / WFAE, Oct 16 2026 · retrieved 2026-10-22
Spot an error? Every outcome is logged publicly. See how we score.