North Carolina
North Carolina’s Party-Switching Abortion Traitor Now Says She Didn’t Have an Abortion
North Carolina State Rep. Tricia Cotham (R)—the former pro-choice advocate who recently switched parties and gave the GOP a veto-proof majority to jam through a 12-week abortion ban, betraying her constituents—is continuing her gaslighting tour. She’s now claiming that she never had an abortion, despite having delivered passionate abortion-rights speeches and talking about her own personal experience during her campaign. It was simply a miscarriage, “not an elective abortion,” the now-Republican lawmaker says.
Cotham said in an interview with WBT radio during the state’s Republican Party convention that the “hardest” thing about voting for the abortion ban is people pointing out that she had an abortion herself.
“I think the hardest thing and the most unfortunate—deeply personal—and this is deeply wrong…I had a miscarriage, and a miscarriage in medical terms is called a spontaneous abortion,” she said. “And so instead of saying—first of all, they should not even be talking about my miscarriage, that is just very painful and wrong—but they’re repeating this message that I had an abortion, and that is false. And that has been completely frustrating and they keep on doing it and that’s below the belt.” (At the start of the interview, she hypes up her work on charter schools said she spoke with both former Vice President Mike Pence and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and she seemed thrilled about it.)
The comments begin at the 7-minute mark:
Back in 2015, when Cotham spoke on the House floor about her medically necessary abortion for an ectopic pregnancy, she used very different language. Cotham said it was an “induced, physician-assisted miscarriage”—which is an abortion. (She also mentions “chemotherapy,” which suggests she was given the cancer drug methotrexate, to end the pregnancy.)
Cotham appears to want to use medical jargon (“spontaneous abortion”) to suggest that people may be confused about how her pregnancy ended, but an induced miscarriage is definitely not spontaneous. And she’s erasing the crucial context in which she gave the speech—sharing her story to oppose a 72-hour waiting period for abortions. She said at the time “Abortion is a deeply personal decision. It should not be a political debate. My womb and my uterus is not up for your political grab.”
Here’s a clip from that speech:
Cotham was even featured in a June 2015 Time story on lawmakers talking about their abortions. “[Cotham] said she went home and wrote out her speech describing the induced physician-assisted abortion of her non-viable fetus. ‘I knew that I was not going to change the minds of those who were going to vote yes. And it wasn’t about them,’ she said. Instead, she said, she spoke so ‘somebody out there could feel maybe not feel shamed.’” She doesn’t insist in that story that it was a miscarriage, not an abortion.
During her 2022 campaign, Cotham even submitted a Planned Parenthood questionnaire in which she wrote that “abortion is a medical procedure. It should be safe, legal, and accessible to all women. I will oppose any legislation that seeks to restrict abortion access.” In January of this year, she co-sponsored a bill to codify the protections of Roe v. Wade into state law.
But flash forward to her changing parties this year, and she’s singing a different tune. After her vote to override the Democratic governor’s veto of the abortion ban, Cotham said in a statement that her miscarriage was different, because it wasn’t “an elective abortion.” Cotham said, “Some call me a hypocrite since I voted for this bill. They presume to know my story. As I said at the time, I had an ectopic pregnancy that sadly ended in miscarriage, not an elective abortion. In fact, Senate Bill 20 affirms the life-saving care I received in that dire situation.”
Ma’am, a little over one year ago you said you supported every person’s right to abortion. We’re not falling for this.
With more than 2,000 miles of rivers and the most whitewater rivers in the southeastern U.S., North Carolina is a paddler’s paradise. From mellow riffles and Class I rapids to more challenging runs, North Carolina’s whitewater scene has something for all experience levels. But one river has earned a reputation among experienced paddlers as a bucket list whitewater experience.
Known for its steep and technical rapids, the Cheoah River offers tantalizing Class III to V rapids that give even the most experienced paddlers a thrill. There’s just one catch …
Cheoah River History
Like many rivers across the country, the Cheoah River is controlled by a dam. For more than 70 years, the 9-mile section of the Cheoah River between the Santeelah Dam and Lake Calderwood at the convergence of the Little Tennessee River was dewatered, which means the once-powerful river was reduced to an average flow of 250 CFS.
Thankfully, after years of lobbying, American Whitewater and its local partners were able to negotiate for scheduled releases. Since 2005, the river has returned to its former glory at least 18 times annually for recreation and ecological purposes. That means you can have a chance to experience the iconic rapids on the Cheoah River — if you time it right.
Paddling a Scheduled Release on the Cheoah River
During scheduled water releases, approximately 1,000 CFS of water flow through the Santeelah Dam. The result is 14 Class III+ to Class V rapids in a 9-mile stretch, with additional smaller rapids mixed in. Most releases are planned for weekends in the spring through fall. To plan a trip to paddle the Cheoah River, check the Graham County Travel website for details on the annual release schedule.
Of course, release schedules are subject to change based on weather conditions and other factors, so double-check closer to your target release date to confirm everything is happening as planned. Advance permits aren’t required, but the U.S. Forest Service requires each individual to purchase a day pass — available from local vendors at the put-in — to access the river during high-flow events.
Guided Experiences on the Cheoah River
Think you’re up for the challenge, but apprehensive about setting out on your own? Opt for a guided paddle with a local outfitter. These expert guides bring a deep understanding of whitewater paddling and knowledge specific to the Cheoah River to all their trips so they can help intermediate and advanced paddlers take on challenging rapids safely.
Check out trips with outfitters like Nantahala Outdoor Center or Endless River Adventures to see if a guided paddle is the right move for you.
Beginner-Friendly Alternatives
While the Cheoah River is suitable for experienced paddlers, there are still plenty of ways for beginners to enjoy the area. Camp on the shores of Lake Santeelah, just upriver from the whitewater put-in, at Cheoah Point Campground. This beachfront recreation area offers first-come, first-served campsites for tents and RVs.
Enjoy easy access to the 2,800-acre lake, which is open for boating, fishing, jet skiing, and swimming. Or use the lake as a launchpad for exploring hiking trails in the area. Don’t miss a chance to grab a bite at the Historic Tapoco Lodge. Situated on the bank of the Cheoah River, the lodge offers prime views of the whitewater action.
If you’re keen on whitewater but aren’t ready to tackle the Cheoah, head to the U.S. National Whitewater Center in Charlotte. Home to the world’s largest manmade whitewater river, the center is well-equipped to help novice paddlers explore the sport and allow more experienced paddlers to take their skills to the next level — all in a controlled environment.
Explore North Carolina Responsibly
Let’s work together to keep North Carolina a paradise for paddling and other on-the-water activities for future generations. Learn how with Leave No Trace tips from Outdoor NC. Then, join the movement to protect North Carolina’s cherished outdoor spaces.
This post was sponsored by Visit North Carolina.
As North Carolina legislative leaders begin to negotiate a spending plan for the next two years, they’ll have a little less money to work with than expected.
Economic forecasters who work in state government have revised their budget projections downward for the next two years.
Forecasters at the legislature and the Office of State Budget and Management come to what’s known as a consensus revenue forecast every year. Then they revise it after the April 15 tax deadline.
The forecasters tend to take a conservative approach, so revised budget projections often provide good news for the state in the form of more revenue coming in than initially anticipated.
But that wasn’t the case this year.
The budget forecast released in February projected the state would collect $544 million more in taxes than expected this fiscal year, but after tax season. Now they expect collections total to be about $364 million. The state’s budget is about $32.6 billion. Forecasters say business tax collections are down slightly because rising costs are cutting into taxable revenues.
The forecast for surplus tax collection in the 2025-26 fiscal year has also been revised downward slightly by $217.6 million or 0.6%. And the forecast for 2026-27 is down a bit more, by $222.4 million or 0.7%
The Office of State Budget and Management ascribed the revision in part to “a weakening outlook for wage and profit growth.”
“Recent business surveys show fewer businesses expect to raise workers’ wages, with many expressing renewed focus on cutting costs to support profitability amid higher prices for imports,” OSBM said in a statement.
Forecasters also predicted slower growth in sales taxes due to lagging wage growth, tariffs and heightened economic uncertainty.
Larger-than-expected tax collections in years past have helped North Carolina build a rainy-day fund — which in turn has helped the state quickly react to unexpected events such as Hurricane Helene, the September storm that caused about $60 billion in damage and left more than 100 North Carolinians dead.
Democratic Gov. Josh Stein seized the news of the budget revision to call on Republican state lawmakers to drop their plans for future tax cuts. His budget proposal called for freezing taxes at their current levels.
“This news comes in the midst of an uncertain economy and federal budget pressures that may put funding for critical resources including Medicaid and SNAP in jeopardy,” Stein said. “It also comes as we find ourselves on the hook for even more Hurricane Helene recovery expenses.”
“We need to balance our books, not bury our heads in the sand,” he concluded.
Demi Dowdy, a spokeswoman for Republican North Carolina House Speaker Destin Hall, provided WRAL News with a statement on Thursday.
“Joe Biden’s legacy of sky high inflation continues, but we’re confident President Trump’s policies will bring economic growth just as they did in his first term,” Dowdy wrote. “Meanwhile, the North Carolina House will continue to pursue fiscally conservative state budgets.”
Republican Senate leaders didn’t immediately respond to requests for comment.
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