North Carolina’s GOP-controlled legislature erodes incoming Democrats’ political powers

The North Carolina House voted Wednesday to override Democratic Governor Roy Cooper’s veto of a bill that will restrict the powers of the incoming governor and other Democrats, clearing the way for the legislation to become law.

The North Carolina House voted Wednesday to override Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper’s veto of a bill that will restrict the powers of the incoming governor and other Democrats, clearing the way for the legislation to become law. The bill passed with 72 members voting for the override and 46 against. The state Senate voted to override the governor’s veto last week. Under the bill, the incoming Democratic governor, Josh Stein, would be stripped of appointments to key state boards and control of the State Board of Elections will be transferred to the state auditor, a Republican. The legislation also shifts power away from the incoming lieutenant governor, attorney general and superintendent of public instruction, all Democrats. The bill was introduced after last month’s elections, when Democrats broke the GOP’s legislative supermajority. Republicans will lose their ability to override gubernatorial vetoes after the new legislature is seated in January. During Wednesday’s debate over the veto override, Republican state Rep. Destin Hall argued the legislation had become a “political football.”