Rep. Tricia Cotham of Mecklenburg County held a press conference Wednesday to announce her party affiliation change from Democrat to Republican. N.C. House Speaker Tim Moore and Senate Leader Phil Berger joined her and other members of Republican legislative leadership for the announcement. The N.C. Democratic Party Chairman Anderson Clayton held a press conference shortly afterwards to call for Cotham’s resignation and addressed questions about speculation that more N.C. Democrats are considering switching parties.