In
this version, is say that Decker is a Conservative:
"The initial switch by Decker, a conservative, led to the first-ever election of co-speakers, with Jim Black, a Democrat, and Richard Morgan, a Republican, sharing the gavel."
Change "is say" to "it says".
Thanks for your link for more information. Unless I missed it, re "The man who deadlocked the state House of Representatives . . ." there is no reference in the article or any of the posts, that the state was N.C., aside from your link.