RALEIGH, N.C. — Due to inclement winter weather, the inauguration ceremony for new North Carolina Governor Josh Stein has been shifted from an outdoor public event to a televised address inside.
Stein’s speech is scheduled for Saturday in Raleigh, replacing what was originally intended as a swearing-in ceremony held outside the old Capitol building for the state’s Democratic officials, known collectively as the Council of State.
Weather warnings for snow, sleet, and freezing rain on Friday and Saturday led the state’s inaugural committee to cancel public celebrations, including a block party, which may be rescheduled in the future. Events planned for Friday and Saturday evenings have also been postponed.
Stein and other Council of State members, which includes the lieutenant governor, attorney general, and state treasurer, completed their official oaths in private or small gatherings earlier in the year. Stein, who took over from term-limited former Governor Roy Cooper, delivered a brief speech during his swearing-in on January 1. His upcoming address, which will be broadcasted by North Carolina public television, is anticipated to be more extensive.
As the attorney general for the past eight years, Stein, who won against former Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson in the November elections, has identified the recovery from Hurricane Helene as a key focus for his administration. He has made two visits to western North Carolina since the start of the year and has issued several executive orders aimed at tackling the aftermath of recent severe flooding.
On the opening day of the General Assembly this week, Republican legislative leaders expressed optimism about collaborating with Stein to secure additional hurricane recovery funding early in 2025.
In terms of more partisan issues, Stein finds himself in a relatively stronger position compared to his predecessor, as he has the potential to effectively block legislation through vetoes. Republicans are currently one seat shy of a veto-proof majority in the House, which allows Stein to veto legislation as long as House Democrats remain unified.
Returning to 2017, when Cooper first became governor, similar winter conditions forced the cancellation of his public swearing-in and inaugural parade. Four years later, after Cooper’s reelection, the COVID-19 pandemic led to further restrictions, prompting the inauguration ceremony for Cooper and the Council members to be adapted into a television format outside the Executive Mansion.
