RALEIGH, N.C. — The outgoing governor of North Carolina, Roy Cooper, utilized his veto power on Tuesday to reject a controversial bill aimed at diminishing the powers assigned to several newly elected Democrats at the state level. One of the significant provisions of this bill would remove the authority of Cooper’s successor to appoint members to the state elections board.

This legislation, which was quickly pushed through the Republican-dominated General Assembly during a hurried lame-duck session, would effectively limit the authority of Governor-elect Josh Stein and other incoming Democratic officials, such as the attorney general, schools superintendent, and lieutenant governor. These roles are all expected to be filled by Democrats next year.

While the bill includes elements for Hurricane Helene relief, critics argue that the amount is minimal, and most of the relief funds cannot be utilized until the General Assembly reconvenes next month. Additionally, experts foresee that tens of billions in further assistance could be needed in the upcoming months.

Democratic lawmakers and their supporters have described the inclusion of disaster relief provisions as mere superficial cover for what they believe to be a series of partisan maneuvers by the GOP aimed at solidifying their power before potentially losing their veto-proof majority following the upcoming Nov. 5 elections, which are currently subject to several recounts.

In his statement regarding the veto, Cooper condemned the bill as a “sham” lacking substantial assistance for the western region of North Carolina. He asserted that it merely reallocates funds within Raleigh without addressing real issues.

“This legislation is labeled as disaster relief but instead violates the constitution by stripping the next Governor of key appointments to the Board of Elections, Utilities Commission, and the NC Highway Patrol,” Cooper stated. He further criticized the bill for allowing political parties to influence appellate judge selections and for undermining the Attorney General’s role in advocating for lower energy costs for consumers.

The veto places the bill back in the hands of the General Assembly, where Republicans are anticipated to initiate an attempt to override the veto as early as next week. Typically, for such an override to succeed, all Republican members in both the Senate and House need to be present and united.

This task may prove to be difficult due to dissent within their ranks: three House Republicans opposed the bill, all representing districts affected by the severe flooding caused by Hurricane Helene. One of these dissenters cited the bill’s rushed passage as a reason for their vote against it.

Despite continuing Republican control of both legislative chambers in January, Stein may find it easier to counteract Republican initiatives if Democratic members remain cohesive in their support for vetoes.

The proposed 131-page legislation seeks to again reshape the way members of the State Board of Elections are appointed, likely resulting in a Republican majority on a board currently dominated by Democrats. Presently, the governor appoints members to the board, with the governor’s party holding three out of five seats. Under the proposed bill, beginning in May, the state auditor—set to be Republican Dave Boliek—would assume the appointment powers, possibly leading to increased Republican control.

Prior GOP initiatives aimed at modifying the board’s structure in favor of bipartisanship have been struck down by the courts, including a law from this year which proposed transferring board appointment authority from the governor to the General Assembly.

Additionally, the vetoed bill would introduce tighter deadlines for post-election activities in 2025, following Republican complaints about the slow counting of provisional and absentee ballots in recent elections, particularly in a closely contested Supreme Court race. Supporters argue that these adjustments would streamline the vote counting process.

Other provisions within the bill would restrict the governor’s ability to fill vacancies in the state Court of Appeals and Supreme Court, confining choices to candidates nominated by the political party of the outgoing justice. Stein, who currently serves as attorney general, will hand over the position to another Democrat, U.S. Representative Jeff Jackson.

Furthermore, the bill aims to prohibit the incoming attorney general from contesting legal interpretations that align against the General Assembly’s positions in litigation. The incoming education superintendent, Mo Green, would also be barred from challenging decisions made by a state board related to charter school applications.

Lastly, the legislation seeks to dissolve the Energy Policy Council, previously chaired by the lieutenant governor, Mark Robinson, a Republican who will be succeeded by Democrat Rachel Hunt early next year. While the bill does allocate an additional $252 million for Hurricane Helene relief—supplementing over $900 million established or designated for relief in prior legislative action—most funds in this latest proposal await further action from the General Assembly for disbursement. Cooper had advocated for an extensive initial spending request of $3.9 billion last month to address the disaster.