North Carolina Republicans successfully strip power from incoming Democrats

RALEIGH, N.C. (CN) — North Carolina Republicans passed a bill into law Wednesday that codifies changes to the state board of elections and strips power from newly elected Democratic officials.

Dubbed a disaster relief bill, Senate Bill 382 — first introduced as a total blindside to Democrats after the election in November — apportions funding that will remain unspent until the General Assembly acts instead of immediately funding the needs of hurricane-hit counties in western North Carolina.

Sitting Governor Roy Cooper vetoed the bill at the end of November, claiming it “plays politics," violates the state constitution and doesn’t support hurricane victims.

The bill — which successfully passed its first veto-override vote in the Senate amidst public protest last Monday — was the closest to a toss-up vote that North Carolina has come to all session. Three Republicans voted against the measure when it first passed the House. All three of those Republicans voted along party lines for the veto override and the bill passed 72 to 46, with two Democrats not present.

The state Assembly has passed almost a billion dollars in relief funding during this session, but have faced pressure from the public to pass grants — rather than loans — and issue an eviction moratorium.

“Hurricane relief is not just about money,” incoming Republican Speaker of the House Destin Hall told representatives on the House floor Wednesday, pointing to regulatory changes that have been passed to benefit citizens, such as a delay in the driver’s license renewal deadline. Federal aid is coming, Hall said.

The move weakens the abilities of incoming Attorney General Jeff Jackson and Governor-elect Josh Stein, and removes Stein’s ability to appoint members to the state board of elections, instead granting that ability to incoming Republican state auditor Dave Boliek. In a change to state courts, two judges will have their positions filled by the leaders of the General Assembly at the end of their terms.

“This bill just seems to do something to help. It doesn’t actually do it,” Democrat Representative Eric Ager said. “The people of North Carolina are tired of hearing that help is on the way. It’s not coming, and that’s the way people feel. We’ve got to do better. We’re not here to talk to each other and slowly drip money.”

Protesters, who had been in the building since the morning, began yelling and chanting “shame” as the vote passed. They were removed from the public viewing area by legislative police and told they needed to leave the building or be arrested.

“I came here today to support those Democratic legislators who did the right thing and voted to sustain and uphold the veto and hopefully give the courage to the Republicans who fell through today,” protestor Eric Willoughby said. “They took a stand then, and they were pressured by their leadership to vote a certain way, I’m sure under threat of primary, and it’s unjust and it’s not right, because those people in those districts are getting the short end of the stick. Meanwhile, the entire state is having the executive branch weakened and drilled down upon. It’s just not right.”

“It’s a very shameful day for North Carolina Republicans,” he added.

While President-elect Donald Trump won the swing state, Republicans suffered losses down-ballot and are set to fall short of the necessary number of seats in the North Carolina House to override future vetoes.

Throughout the 2023 and 2024 sessions, Republicans have leaned on their override ability, passing into law legislation opposed by the governor and by Democrats, including bills requiring sheriffs to cooperate with ICE and the reinstitution of restrictions on mask wearing in public.

“This action item today should be critical for making sure North Carolina continues to be able to do what it can to deliver victories for Republicans up and down the ticket and move this country in the right direction,” outgoing Speaker of the House Tim Moore said on Bannon’s War Room Wednesday morning.

Kathe Rauch, an activist who attended a protest in opposition of the bill on Monday night, said she was deeply concerned about supporting western North Carolina and the capabilities of the newly elected council of state with the changes being made.

“We all fought very hard to elect the people who are going to be coming into office in January, and this current Republican legislature is working as hard as they can to take away the powers that we just vested in the council of state,” she said.

“I just feel like it’s the beginning of activism again, for me as a feminist, as an individual,” Rauch said. “I’ve lived in North Carolina for over 30 years, and I’ve been out here, and I have been protesting and in favor of women’s rights, and it’s time to do it again. I’m 73 years old, but we’re out here again, and I think what people need to realize what we have lost and what we are losing if we don’t pay attention.”

The House also passed a constitutional amendment that would require all voters to show photo ID to vote, not just those who vote in person. Several Republicans have protestedthe ballots of overseas and military voters in the 2024, claiming that the state board not requiring them to provide photo ID was in violation of state law. The measure will be put to the voters in the statewide election on Nov. 3, 2026.

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