North Carolina lawmaker Brockman resigns amid pressure from party over charges of child sex offenses

Cecil Brockman, a High Point Democrat who faces charges for sex offenses, is stepping down following bipartisan pressure to resign from his seat in the state House of Representatives.

Brockman tendered his resignation Friday, according to his legislative aide, Drew Gibson. In a letter, Brockman said he plans to resign to focus on his defense.

“I am currently facing criminal charges brought against me in Guilford County,” Brockman said in his resignation letter, which was viewed by WRAL on Friday before it was filed. “Due to the seriousness of these accusations, I need to focus on my defense of these allegations. As a result, I am currently unable to fulfill my duty and service to my constituents in Guilford County. As a result, I am resigning my position from the NC House of Representatives effective immediately.”

Brockman, a 41-year-old Democrat who has represented High Point for a decade, was arrested Oct. 8 and charged with two counts of statutory sex offense with a child and two additional counts of indecent liberties with a child. Prosecutors allege that he met the 15-year-old victim on a dating app and that they lived together for a time. The alleged victim’s cellphone contained videos of illicit acts, according to prosecutors, who said investigators recognized Brockman in some of the videos.

Brockman and his lawyer haven’t responded to WRAL’s requests for comment. Brockman remains in jail on a $1.05 million bond and is due back in court on Monday. Gibson delivered Brockman’s resignation letter to legislative staff Friday afternoon.

Democratic North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein, the state Democratic Party, and legislative leaders from both sides of the aisle called for Brockman to resign within hours of his arrest. After nearly two weeks passed, House Speaker Destin Hall announced the creation of a legislative committee that could potentially expel Brockman from the house in the event that he didn’t resign. Hall released members of the committee on Friday. Moments later, Brockman tendered his resignation.

“Rep. Brockman’s decision to resign is the right thing to do for his constituents and for the North Carolina House of Representatives,” Hall said, adding: “His departure spares the House from a difficult expulsion process and brings closure to this troubling chapter.”

Stein released a statement two days after Brockman's resignation, saying that it is "the best thing for the people he serves. I look forward to the selection of a new representative so we can get back to the business of the people."

With Brockman now out, members of the Guilford County Democratic Party are tasked with replacing him. Democrats who live in Brockman’s district can run for the seat in an election held internally by officials within the local Democratic Party. State law then directs the governor to appoint that person.

Rep. Robert Reives, the House Minority Leader, released a statement saying he’s looking forward to that process.

“I am glad that Rep. Brockman has voluntarily resigned from the General Assembly. The allegations against him are serious and made it impossible for him to adequately represent his constituents,” Reives said.

The Guilford County Democratic Party plans to hold a meeting Nov. 15 to nominate Brockman’s replacement, said Kathy Kirkpatrick, the Guilford party chairwoman. Kirkpatrick called local party members in advance of Brockman’s resignation in hopes the replacement process would go as smoothly as possible, she said. Eligible Democrats — those who live in the district — can announce a campaign for the seat in advance of the meeting, or they can declare their candidacy during the meeting itself.

It will likely take a week or more for local party members to vote, Kirkpatrick said. The party is required to notify Democrats of any meeting at least five days in advance, she said.

Kirkpatrick and others have been eager to replace Brockman because he has missed multiple votes since his Oct. 8 arrest.

Brockman was in jail while the House voted on new congressional maps, as well as proposals to fund Medicaid and boost pay for some employees. Brockman’s presence wouldn’t have changed the outcome of those votes. However, a vacant Democrat-controlled seat makes it easier for the Republican-controlled House to override Stein’s vetoes.

Stein has vetoed bills that would loosen North Carolina’s gun laws and eliminate diversity policies in state agencies, among other things. Legislators can override vetoes with 60% support of the chamber. Republicans hold a veto-proof majority in the state Senate but not in the state House of Representatives, where the GOP is one seat short.

Republicans now need just one Democrat to vote with the GOP — or to be absent from the vote — to override Stein's vetoes, provided Republicans also vote together in favor of the override. Lawmakers have said they don’t plan to return to Raleigh for any major votes this year.

Brockman often voted to uphold gubernatorial vetoes, but not always. That inconsistency caused his relationship with Democrats to fray in recent years, despite his previous work for the party.

Brockman worked on several Democratic campaigns before running for state House in 2014, according to his campaign website. He replaced former state Rep. Marcus Brandon, who lost his race for a congressional seat that year. Brockman worked as an aide for Brandon, who was among the first openly gay members of the General Assembly — and Brockman quickly gained a reputation for standing up for the LGBTQ community.

Brockman’s career

In 2015, the House approved a bill allowing magistrates and county register of deeds employees to opt out of performing same-sex marriages for religious reasons. At the close of the House session, Brockman stood and apologized “to all the gay and lesbian couples in North Carolina,” before then-House Speaker Tim Moore ruled him out of order.

In 2016, Brockman came out as bisexual after the legislature passed House Bill 2, which limited which public bathrooms transgender people could use. He told the Greensboro News & Record: “It’s important to tell the folks down in Raleigh, you are serving with members of the LGBT community and elected members you serve with can potentially be harmed by your legislation.”

Brockman — Black, relatively young, and part of the LGBTQ community — represents several of his party’s main constituencies and Democrats at the time viewed him as a potential asset for years to come. However, some lost patience with Brockman as he missed key votes and occasionally supported GOP bills.

In 2023, Brockman missed a vote on whether to repeal the state’s pistol permit requirements. He also sided with the GOP on laws related to charter schools, environmental regulations and the state budget. Those actions prompted a rebuke from some Democratic groups and, in 2024, the first primary challenge Brockman faced since entering office.

Brockman has attributed previous absences to a medical issue. Brockman has also said he prioritizes the needs of his district over that of his party, and defended his support for the budget, saying in a statement: “I supported the budget because I fought hard for appropriations I thought would have a profound impact on my community.”

With help from secretive conservative groups, Brockman won the Democratic nomination by 85 votes and later cruised to a sixth-term in office. A day after the March primary, Brockman posted on social media: “Mark my words, purity tests will be the death of my party.”

In December, Brockman missed a vote on a Helene relief bill that also stripped some of the governor’s powers. His presence wouldn’t have changed the outcome of the vote. Nonetheless, Brockman said on social media that the party had “sent angry mobs” after him — an allegation the party denies.

“The depravity of the establishment within the NC Democratic Party knows no bounds,” Brockman said in a Dec. 16 statement, concluding his comments with a reminder: “Watch your mouth when talking about me, and remember your neighbors are watching and listening, especially those in the African-American community.”