By Brianna Kraemer
Carolina Journal
North Carolina Rep. Cecil Brockman, D-Guilford, blasted his own party in a lengthy statement posted online Monday afternoon for using him as a scapegoat and sending “angry mobs” after him for not showing up for last week’s veto override vote.
Brockman did not attend the floor vote last week but rather prioritized his health after learning all Republicans were expected to back the override of Senate Bill 382. The anticipated unanimous Republican approval meant there was enough support to override the governor without Democrats altering the outcome.
Brockman says because he didn’t show up, the party sent people after him following the chamber’s veto override vote, even as he opened up about his mental health struggles.
“The depravity of the establishment within the NC Democratic Party knows no bounds,” the statement reads. “After gathering the strength to share with the world about my struggle with mental health, the party has sent angry mobs after me.”
Brockman pointed to the party “wasting half a million dollars on a failed Democratic primary” in an attempt to defeat him earlier in the year.
“Meanwhile, as the party continues to prioritize attacking me and spreading lies within my community, the NC Senate continues to maintain its supermajority and the NC House is just one vote shy of the supermajority,” he wrote. “I genuinely question the strategy of the Democratic establishment who prefer to scapegoat a member of their own party to shift the heat off themselves for an outcome they failed to change.”
Further criticizing the North Carolina Democratic Party, Brockman said that the party would rather have people sacrifice their own community’s needs for the interests of the white Democratic elite.
“Let me make it plain and clear for you: Over these next two years, you need me. I do not need you.”
The criticism draws attention to the General Assembly’s political makeup. While Senate Republicans will hold a supermajority in 2024, the House is just one seat shy of a supermajority. Republicans recently welcomed Democrats to join their caucus to give them the 60% threshold needed.
“The first thing I would say is we’re always accepting new members in the Republican caucus if anybody else wants to change parties,” said Rep. Destin Hall, R-Caldwell, last month.
Brockman’s internal feud with his party colleagues could signal potential strides for Republicans in the new year. In the previous session, Democrat Rep. Tricia Cotham, R-Mecklenburg, switched parties and ultimately gave the House a supermajority with enough votes to override the governor on contentious legislation.
The Carolina Journal reached out to Brockman but did not immediately receive a response.
