Cotham raises $27K after party switch, returns $8K to disgruntled Democrats
A new report shows North Carolina state Rep. Tricia Cotham's campaign spending and fundraising. The filing is marked as late. Cotham's campaign says it was submitted on time.
North Carolina state Rep. Tricia Cotham raised about $27,000 in the weeks after switching political parties in April. The move dealt a blow to Democrats and gave Republicans veto-proof control.
According to the fundraising report released on Wednesday, Cotham returned $8,350 to five individual donors and two political groups between January and June.
Karla Jurvetson, a major Democratic donor, received the bulk of the reimbursements, as she got back $5,600 that she had previously given to the then-Democrat Cotham. The Democratic Women of Mecklenburg County received $1,250 that it had previously given to then-Democratic member Cotham and a political committee for former state Sen. Jeff Jackson received $1,000 back.
Another $500 was returned to four Democratic donors, including Ann Newman, Mariah Morgan, Brad Anderton and Christopher Coby. Coby’s son served as Cotham’s treasurer up until she switched parties. The younger Coby, Jonathan, resigned shortly after Cotham’s planned move to the GOP.
Cotham’s semi-annual fundraising report to the North Carolina State Board of Elections shows as filed three days late, as it is marked as filed on Monday. The filing deadline was Friday.
Cotham's campaign said the report was submitted on time on Friday electronically and via FedEx. House Republican Caucus Director Stephen Wiley said Cotham may request waiver if state officials pursue any late fees. The State Board of Elections didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment on whether Cotham’s campaign would face any penalties.
Cotham entered July with nearly $44,000 in available cash. She currently represents a largely Democratic district outside Charlotte.
Lawmakers are expected to go back to the drawing board to draw new legislative and congressional maps later this fall.
This story was updated to reflect that Jonathan Coby, the son of Christopher Coby, left Cotham’s campaign as treasurer.