CHARLOTTE, N.C. — North Carolina Rep. Tricia Cotham is recovering after undergoing emergency surgery on Friday, according to her chief of staff.
Carl Gilmore posted on X, the website formerly known as Twitter, that Cotham was resting in recovery following the procedure. It's unclear what type of procedure Cotham had, but the lawmaker previously said in 2022 she suffered from long-COVID symptoms after contracting the virus.
Cotham told WCNC Charlotte's Flashpoint that she'd battled COVID-19 on and off for over two years, taking several medications and inhalers.
Cotham claimed victory in her first reelection bid since a controversial party change that gave Republicans a supermajority in the General Assembly. Cotham was taking on Democrat Nicole Sidman. Mecklenburg County election results were certified on Friday, with Gilmore's post claiming Cotham officially won the race. The North Carolina State Board of Election website shows Cotham with 27,303 votes to Sidman's 27,087.
Sidman posted on X Friday that while the chances of a recount changing the outcome are low, it takes just one tabulation error to be the difference and her request would be moving forward.
"When the results are certified today, we expect our margin will still be within the range for a recount," Sidman posted.