(The Center Square) – A state representative says the North Carolina Democratic Party has “sent angry mobs,” “wasted more than half a million dollars” to defeat him in a primary and seeks “a seat warmer who does nothing, sacrificing their own community’s needs for the desires of the wealthy and white Democratic elite.”
Rep. Cecil Brockman’s statement, released just after lunch on Monday, was in response to the House of Representatives’ action last Wednesday in voting to override a Gov. Roy Cooper veto. Senate Bill 382 sparked vitriol from opposing parties, Democrats upset the 132-page legislation changed authorities for elected leaders and Republicans satisfied with adding those changes to a $277 million fiscal aid package to western North Carolina.
The Hurricane Helene recovery portion of the document was contained in the first 13 pages.
Passed 63-46 in the chamber on Nov. 19, the House was 72-46 in favor of the override of Disaster Relief-3/Budget/Various Law Changes, also known as Senate Bill 382. The Senate completed its half of the overturn 30-19 on Dec. 2. State law requires three-fifths of the vote for a successful override.
Brockman was one of two excused absences on the override vote. He and three others were also excused on the initial passage last month. Brockman said last Wednesday he was sick, had received word the vote was likely to be unanimous and “prioritized my health.”
“For those in our party who desire to keep my name in their mouths, let me make it plain and clear for you: Over these next two years, you need me. I do not need you,” Brockman’s statement concludes. “It is not easy to forgive and forget the vile, disgusting lies you all have peddled. Watch your mouth when talking about me, and remember your neighbors are watching and listening, especially those in the African American community.”
Brockman’s statement did not allude to specific acts. He did say, “The depravity of the establishment within the NC Democratic Party knows no bounds. After gathering the strength to share with the world about my struggle with mental health, the party has sent angry moves after me.”
Brockman represents District 60, an area surrounding High Point. He was first elected in 2014, and this year secured his sixth two-year term. He defeated Republican Joseph Perrotta 63.1%-36.9% in the general election and James Adams 50.7%-49.3% in the Democrats’ primary.
“For my voters,” Brockman said, “they need to know that this is a coordinated strategy from within my party and it will continue over the next two years. If I do not bend my knee to the establishment, I will continue to be portrayed as a villain. They’d rather convince my community that I am a villain to be scapegoated instead of acknowledging the reality that things are rarely black and white.”
Internal party pressures are consistent with politics. Extremes, however, often get called out. North Carolina Democrats were infamously called out in April 2023 when Rep. Tricia Cotham changed her registration to Republican.
Just like after this year’s election, the House majority following the 2022 midterms stood at 71 Republicans and 49 Democrats. That’s one Republican shy of three-fifths majority, the minimum threshold to overturn gubernatorial vetoes.
“It’s been very clear to me this was about control on Day 1 at the Legislature,” Cotham said at a news conference with Republican leaders on April 5, 2023. “They picked the wrong chick for that.”
She added, “If you don’t do exactly what the Democrats want you to do, they will try to bully you. They will cast you aside.”
Cotham cited as examples her use of emojis on social media and her vehicle – the American flag, praying hands.
