Josh Stein Archives - Page 2 of 4

North Carolina GOP lawmakers enact a law eroding the incoming Democratic governor’s powers

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina House Republicans have enacted legislation that erodes some powers of several statewide offices newly-elected Democrats are slated to hold next month. Lawmakers overrode Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper’s veto. One of the most significant changes shifts the power to appoint state elections board members from the governor to the state auditor. The state auditor will be a Republican next year. The law also diminishes some powers of the attorney general, lieutenant governor and schools superintendent. Opposition to the bill has drawn protests in the state House’s gallery.… Continue Reading

North Carolina Republicans close in on enacting bill that weakens incoming Democratic governor

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina legislative Republicans are closing in on enacting a measure that would erode powers of the incoming governor and other statewide Democratic officials who got elected last month. The GOP-dominated state Senate voted successfully on Monday to override Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper’s veto of a bill. The bill would in part weaken Gov.-elect Josh Stein. It would transfer the governor’s authority to make State Board of Elections appointments to the next state auditor — a Republican. The bill now returns to the House, where another successful override vote next week would make it law. Litigation is possible, however.… Continue Reading

North Carolina’s governor has vetoed a GOP bill that would weaken his successor and other Democrats

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper has vetoed Republican-backed legislation that weakens the powers of several Democrats slated to hold statewide offices next year. Republicans will try to override the veto next month, but it’s unclear whether they’ll have enough votes to do so. The bill would move appointments to the State Board of Elections from the Democratic governor’s office to the now-Republican state auditor. It also erodes the powers of the attorney general, superintendent of public education and the lieutenant governor. The bill also contains some relief provisions for areas impacted by Hurricane Helene but most of that money can’t be spent until the General Assembly reconvenes.… Continue Reading

North Carolina Republicans push through bill weakening incoming governor and attorney general

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina Republicans have advanced legislation that would weaken the powers of the incoming governor, attorney general and schools superintendent. All those are Democrats who were elected two weeks ago. The final measure was made public Tuesday shortly before the GOP-controlled House started debate during a lame-duck General Assembly session. Republicans are likely to lose their veto-proof majority beginning in January following electoral losses in the House. So this could be the best chance to move partisan changes as Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper leaves office. The bill would prevent Gov.-elect Josh Stein from choosing State Board of Elections members starting next summer and give that authority to the Republican state auditor.… Continue Reading

North Carolina Democrats find electoral success further down the ballot and hope to build on it

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Democrats fell short again in wresting away swing-state prize North Carolina from Republicans in the presidential election. But their party succeeded with significant state down-ballot victories that builds them hope for the next cycle. Donald Trump narrowly won North Carolina’s electoral votes for the third consecutive election. But Democratic candidates for governor, lieutenant governor and attorney general won, and legislative candidates appear to have secured enough victories to end the GOP’s veto-proof majority. State Republican leaders say their party is still doing well. They point to winning five statewide executive branch posts, retaining General Assembly control and continuing recent dominance in statewide appellate court races.… Continue Reading

Republicans make gains in numerous state legislatures. But Democrats also notch a few wins

Republicans running on the ballot underneath President-elect Donald Trump have made gains in numerous state legislatures. But Democrats also notched a few wins in an expensive battle for state power. The most notable change came in Michigan, where Republicans won back the House just two years after Democrats took full control of state government. Republicans also appear on track to force a tie in the Minnesota House, which had been led by Democrats. Both parties scored some incremental victories. Republicans ended Democrats’ veto-proof supermajority in Vermont, while Democrats appeared on track to do the same in North Carolina.… Continue Reading

Democrats gain another statewide position in North Carolina with Rachel Hunt victory

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — The group of North Carolina elected executive branch positions known as the Council of State will have equal numbers of Democrats and Republicans come January. Democrats flipped the positions of lieutenant governor and superintendent of public instruction, while a Republican defeated the incumbent Democratic state auditor. Rachel Hunt’s victory for lieutenant governor capped other top Democratic wins, including Josh Stein for governor and Jeff Jackson for attorney general. Hunt is the daughter of former four-term Gov. Jim Hunt. Meanwhile, Republicans continued their recent dominance in appellate court races by winning three seats and leading narrowly in a fourth.… Continue Reading

North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein is elected as the state’s governor

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein has been elected the state’s next governor. The Democrat defeated Republican Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson on Tuesday. His victory maintains Democratic leadership of the chief executive’s office in a state where the GOP has been in recent control of the legislature and the appeals courts. Stein will succeed Democrat Roy Cooper, who was term-limited from seeking reelection. Stein is a former state senator who was first elected attorney general in 2016. The son of a prominent civil rights lawyer, he will be North Carolina’s first Jewish governor. Democrats have resided in the governor’s mansion in Raleigh for all but four years since 1993.… Continue Reading

Embattled Republican candidate fights on in North Carolina governor’s race

ELLERBE, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina had been projected as the state with the most closely watched race for governor this fall. But advantages late in the race appear to favor Democratic Attorney General Josh Stein over Republican Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson. Stein’s campaign has overwhelmed Robinson in fundraising, including a massive $44.6 million haul from July to mid-October. Stein’s coffers have been used for ads attacking Robinson for past inflammatory comments on abortion, women and other topics. And a September CNN report alleging Robinson made racial and sexual posts on a pornography website’s message board more than a decade ago shook his campaign. Robinson denies writing the posts and sued CNN for defamation.… Continue Reading

Trump repeats debunked claims about FEMA as he surveys storm damage in North Carolina

RUTHERFORDTON, N.C. (AP) — Former President Donald Trump is blasting federal emergency responders whose work in North Carolina has been stymied by armed harassment and a deluge of misinformation. But Trump said Monday that he was not concerned that the aftermath of Hurricane Helene would affect election results in the battleground state. Trump was asked whether it was helpful to criticize hurricane relief workers after the Federal Emergency Management Agency recently paused its work in the area because of reports they could be targeted by militia. He responded by again attacking the agency and repeating the falsehood that the response was hampered because FEMA spent its budget helping people who crossed the border illegally.… Continue Reading