RALEIGH, N.C. — On Wednesday, North Carolina legislators successfully passed a law that overrides a veto from Democratic Governor Roy Cooper, aiming to limit the powers of his successor and other Democratic officials set to take office following the elections on November 5.
The Republican-controlled House voted 72-46 to override the veto, just one week after the GOP-led Senate did the same. During both votes, protesters opposed to the legislation filled the gallery and caused disruptions, with over 150 individuals crowded onto the third floor, exceeding the seating capacity of the House gallery. As the override vote concluded, the crowd began chanting “shame” and continued their outcry while being escorted out of the chamber.
After multiple warnings to quiet down, law enforcement officials within the General Assembly arrested one woman who refused to leave the premises, according to Police Chief Martin Brock. She faces charges that include trespassing, resisting arrest, and violating building regulations.
The major components of the new 132-page law primarily focus on curtailing powers granted to Governor-elect Josh Stein, incoming Attorney General Jeff Jackson, the future Democratic Lieutenant Governor, and the new Schools Superintendent. They are all set to take office in early December. A significant provision in the law transfers the authority to appoint members of the State Board of Elections from the governor to the state auditor, who will be a Republican next year, altering the composition of the board, which historically had been appointed by the governor.
For many years, the governor has appointed five board members, typically allowing his party to secure three of those seats. The new law will shift this appointment power to the state auditor starting next spring, likely resulting in a Republican majority on both the state board and at the county election boards.
Additionally, the law reduces the governor’s ability to fill vacancies on the North Carolina Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court and restricts the Attorney General from pursuing legal positions that contradict the General Assembly in cases challenging the validity of laws. This new legislation accelerates certain post-election deadlines after Republicans raised concerns about slow processing times for provisional and absentee ballots, particularly following a closely contested Supreme Court election.
This override came during the waning days of a lame-duck session in the General Assembly, where Republicans have just enough seats to enact these overrides without needing Democratic support. However, that situation will change soon, as Democrats gained an additional seat in the House during the recent general elections, barring any successful election protests that might alter results.
Despite eventually achieving the override, House Republicans faced some internal discord. Three GOP lawmakers from areas affected by Hurricane Helene had initially opposed the legislation but ultimately voted in favor of overriding the veto.
Criticism surrounding the bill pointed to the $252 million allocated for Hurricane Helene recovery efforts contained within it, funds that cannot be utilized until further action is taken by the General Assembly. In his veto message, Cooper condemned the legislation as a facade, accusing Republicans of exploiting disaster recovery for political gain—a sentiment echoed by House Democrats and Stein.
Stein remarked, “It is shameful for the Republicans in the General Assembly to use people’s desperate need for assistance as a cover for their petty political actions.” Other opponents of the bill voiced their concerns during a news conference, arguing that GOP lawmakers were failing to represent the interests of western North Carolinians and jeopardizing democratic processes.
“Western North Carolina should not be treated as a plaything. It is not a platform for exploitation or a venue for blatant disrespect,” stated Sam Stites from the advocacy group Just Economics of Western North Carolina.
Republicans, however, contend that over $900 million has already been disbursed for recovery efforts since October, with promises for more funding in the upcoming session. Caldwell County Republican Rep. Destin Hall, who is anticipated to become the House speaker next year, defended the law as an expression of the legislature’s constitutional rights.
“This body is dedicated to aiding those affected by the storms in this state,” Hall affirmed. “The situation at hand has unfortunately turned into a political issue.” Experts predict that this new law will soon find itself embroiled in legal battles, reminiscent of events eight years ago when Republicans passed measures to weaken Cooper’s powers just before his inauguration.
Outgoing House Speaker Tim Moore, now a congressman-elect, commented post-vote, “It’s inevitable that this will end up in court. That’s simply how it’s going to go.”
The House also moved to secure a proposal for a constitutional amendment on the November 2026 ballot, which would mandate all North Carolina voters to present photo identification before casting their votes. The current constitution specifies that photo ID is necessary only for in-person voting. Existing exemptions will remain under the proposed amendment, and separate laws already require voters to submit a copy of their photo ID when voting by mail.
