RALEIGH, NC (AP) – Outgoing North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper voted for legislation on Tuesday that would strip powers from several Democrats elected to state office this month, including removing Cooper’s deputy’s authority to appoint the state election board.
These and other provisions, contained in a separate section wrapped up by the Republican-controlled General Assembly in less than 24 hours during a meeting of lame ducks last week, could affect Gov.-elect Josh Stein, as well as the next attorney general. , superintendent and lieutenant governor — offices expected to be led by Democrats next year.
Although the bill contains some Hurricane Helene relief, critics say the amount is too small and most of the relief money cannot be spent until the General Assembly resumes next month. And billions of dollars more in aid may be needed in the coming months.
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The Democrats and their allies saw the risk of taking control of the party and the GOP before its majority left at the end of the year following the certification of the elections on November 5. they are being counted.
In his veto speech, Cooper called the bill a “sham” that doesn’t provide much-needed aid to western North Carolina and “just moves money from one fund to another in Raleigh” instead.
“This law was called emergency relief but it violates the constitution by eliminating the next governor’s Board of Elections, Utilities Commission and Commander of the NC Highway Patrol, letting political parties choose court judges and impairing the ability of the Attorney General to support lower electricity bills for consumers,” Cooper said.
The bill now returns to the General Assembly, where Republicans are expected to begin trying to pass it in Raleigh next week. They generally need both GOP House members and senators present and united to succeed.
But that could be problematic, as three House Republicans voted no on the bill this month. All three represent areas damaged by Helene’s historic floods. One of them said he voted against the measure because it was rushed through the General Assembly.
While Republicans will continue to control both chambers come January, Stein could successfully block the GOP’s legislation if Democratic lawmakers remain united in supporting vetoes.
The 131-page bill would also try to change how the State Board of Elections is set up, potentially leading to a GOP majority instead of a group now dominated by Democrats.
The governor currently appoints the state board, and the governor’s party holds three of the five seats.
Under the new law, starting in May, the state auditor – who is Republican Dave Boliek – will make the decision. These changes could mean Republican control of the board in the near future and filter down to state election boards, too.
Other measures passed by the GOP-controlled legislature since 2016 to change the board’s design in favor of bipartisanship have been blocked by the courts, including a 2023 bill that would move board-appointment powers from the governor to the General Assembly.
The re-voted bill would go up several times after the 2025 election after Republican complaints that districts took too long this month to count provisional and absentee ballots, largely because of the Supreme Court race. Republicans said the changes would lead to faster and faster release of vote totals.
This law will weaken the governor’s ability to fill vacancies in the Supreme Court and the Supreme Court by limiting his choice to candidates nominated by the political party of the incumbent or outgoing judge.
Mr. Stein, the current attorney general, will be replaced by another Democratic US representative, Mr. Jeff Jackson. This bill will limit the attorney general by prohibiting him from taking legal positions against the General Assembly in anti-democracy cases.
The bill also would prevent the director of public instruction — a position to be held by Democrat Mo Green — from appealing the decision by the state board that reviews charter school applications.
And the legislation would eliminate the Energy Policy Council, which the lieutenant governor had chaired. Current GOP Gov. Lt. Mark Robinson is giving way to Democrat Rachel Hunt early next year.
The bill found an additional $250 million in Helene relief, adding to the more than $900 million that lawmakers had already set aside or begun spending in previous measures this fall. But most of the money included in the current bill cannot be spent until the General Assembly acts again. Cooper asked the legislature last month to consider Helene’s first utility request of $390,000.