North Carolina Republicans Override Governor’s Veto, Stripping Power from Incoming Democrats

The GOP-led legislature passed a controversial bill reallocating executive authority and tying hurricane relief to sweeping political changes.

The 131-page bill, SB 382, reallocates $227 million for Hurricane Helene relief but primarily focuses on reducing the powers of incoming Democratic officials.
Key changes include transferring control of the State Board of Elections from the governor to the Republican-held state auditor and limiting the attorney general’s ability to challenge state laws.
The legislation was fast-tracked without committee hearings and passed in the final days of the GOP’s veto-proof supermajority in the General Assembly.
Democratic leaders, including Governor-elect Josh Stein and outgoing Governor Roy Cooper, have criticized the bill as a partisan power grab and signaled potential legal challenges.
Protests erupted during the veto override votes, with critics accusing lawmakers of exploiting disaster relief as a cover for undermining democratic norms.