A version of this story appears in CNN’s What Matters newsletter. To get it in your inbox, sign up for free here.
One vote can change everything, especially when things are close.
Voters outside Charlotte, North Carolina, had every reason to expect their representative would vote to protect abortion rights.
State Rep. Tricia Cotham once shared the story of her own abortion in a speech supporting abortion rights on the state House floor.
Earlier this year, she signed on to a bill that would codify abortion rights under Roe v. Wade in her state. Cotham is still listed as a co-sponsor.
But then, earlier this month, she voted for a ban on most abortions after 12 weeks of pregnancy, about half of what was guaranteed under Roe v. Wade.
What happened in between is that Cotham switched parties and upended North Carolina’s power balance in the process.
Alienated by Democrats, in particular on the issue of education and her deeply held support for charter schools, Cotham said she no longer felt represented by the party. She became a Republican in April and gave Republicans a veto-proof majority in the state House. Cotham did not respond to a request for comment.
Republicans are now poised to use that majority to change abortion law in the state over Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper’s objection. Cooper vetoed the bill on Saturday, but a vote to override that veto is now scheduled for Tuesday.
“If just one Republican in either the House or the Senate keeps a campaign promise to protect women’s reproductive health, we can stop this ban,” Cooper told supporters at a campaign-style rally in Raleigh on Saturday.
Republicans have argued the bill represents compromise – most US abortions occur in the first trimester. But the bill also places new restrictions on women seeking an abortion before that 12-week…
Read the full article here