NC General Assembly Begins Long Session with End of GOP Supermajority
Outgoing NC Governor Roy Cooper congratulates Governor-Elect Josh Stein on his Election Night Victory on Nov. 5, 2024. Source: Karl B. DeBlaker / AP Photo.
In November, North Carolina Democrats broke the Republicans’ veto-proof power in the General Assembly by a tight margin. Republicans previously had a supermajority, which allowed for overrides of Governor Cooper’s vetoes and paralyzed the North Carolina House Representatives. The GOP had gained the supermajority in 2023 when Rep. Tricia Cotham, who was elected as a Democrat in 2022, made an unexpected party switch in April 2023 and joined the GOP.
Democrats across the state celebrated the end of the Republican supermajority along with the victory of Attorney General Josh Stein over Lieutenant Governor Mark Robinson in the gubernatorial race. Republicans saw the defeat of incumbent Representatives Ken Fontenot of Nash County and Frank Sossamon of Vance County in elections that came down to less than 1,000 votes. In addition, Democrats fared well in Council of State offices, flipping the Department of Public Instruction blue and guarding the positions of Attorney General and Secretary of State. Still, Republicans hold the majority in the state Senate and House of Representatives. Also, Republicans maintain a supermajority in the state Senate.
The N.C. House Republicans will be forced to take a different approach in the General Assembly. In the last legislative session, House Republicans overrode 29 of Governor Cooper’s vetoes. Now, no override will occur unless Democrats are persuaded to work with Republicans or if a Democrat is absent during a General Assembly vote. In the aftermath of the 2024 election, House Republicans frantically moved to strip away core powers of newly-elected Democratic officials, suspecting that their supermajority had ended. N.C. Republicans have searched for ways to wrest power from Democrats in the wake of their Election Day losses, including limiting Governor Stein’s power to appoint judges and agency officials.
Although the Republicans lost the supermajority in the House, the General Assembly remains deadlocked. If just one Democratic representative votes across the aisle, the Republicans could once again override a Democratic Governor’s veto. Although unlikely, the House could see a repeat of Rep. Tricia Cotham’s party switch.
During the current session that convened in January, state representatives are working toward passing a two-year budget. In mid-February, a bipartisan team of economists created a budget forecast that projects potential decreased state revenues in the next couple of years as a result of GOP tax cuts. State Senate Republican leader Phil Berger brushed off revenue concerns, citing revenue growth in the coming months as evidence that the state budget will not struggle in the future after increased tax cuts. The collaboration to craft a state budget comes amid the uncertainty of finances after President Trump and Elon Musk’s severe budget slashing. North Carolina State University announced a hiring freeze on Valentine’s Day after financial concerns. Duke and UNC stand to lose millions in NIH funding after Trump and Musk’s cuts.
The destruction and chaos of Hurricane Helene in Western North Carolina still looms as a budget priority. State Superintendent of Public Instruction Mo Green called for an end to automatic expansion in the new budget of NC’s private school vouchers, instead advocating for more resources to public school students and teachers. Legislators of both parties must also consider infrastructure improvements and funding allocation to the Rainy Day Fund, which was significantly depleted by Helene recovery efforts. Republican lawmakers have called for increased funding to the Rainy Day Fund in anticipation of another disaster.
To guard against another effective Republican supermajority in the General Assembly, House Democrats will have to strive for solid legislative unity. If one Democrat is absent, the House Republicans will once again be able to override a Democratic Governor’s veto.