GOP lawmakers' power transfers are reshaping North Carolina [View all]
Source: Salon/Propublica
Published January 1, 2026 6:00AM (EST)
North Carolina voters have chosen Democrats in three straight elections for governor; the state’s Republican-led legislature has countered by siphoning off some of the powers that traditionally came with the job.
These power grabs have had a profound effect on both democracy in the state and on the everyday lives of North Carolina residents, Democrats argue.
The changes are “weakening environmental protections, raising energy costs, and politicizing election administration,” Josh Stein, North Carolina’s governor, said in a text message responding to questions from ProPublica.
Republican leaders in the General Assembly did not respond to requests for comment or emailed questions about the power shifts. In the past, they have defended these actions as reflecting the will of voters, with the senate president describing one key bill as balancing “appointment power between the legislative and executive branches.”
Read more: https://www.salon.com/2026/01/01/gop-lawmakers-power-transfers-are-reshaping-north-carolina_partner/
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