GOP lawmakers in North Carolina vote to decrease incoming Democratic leaders’ authority

In North Carolina, Republican lawmakers passed a bill that would strip the state’s incoming Democratic governor and attorney general of key powers before the GOP potentially loses its veto-proof supermajority in the Legislature. The bill would give the authority to appoint members to the state’s election board to the state auditor instead of the governor, shorten the time for voters to fix ballot errors, and require counties to count ballots more rapidly. The bill also includes other Republican legislative priorities and has been criticized by Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper as a “power grab.” The legislation was introduced quickly and passed by both GOP-controlled chambers despite opposition from some Republicans. The bill also proposes limiting the attorney general from taking legal positions contrary to the Legislature’s, preventing the incoming attorney general from refusing to defend laws passed by the Legislature. The bill would also diminish the governor’s power in filling judicial vacancies and creating new Superior Court positions. The Republican supermajority in the Legislature is expected to shrink, making it difficult to override any future vetoes from the attorney general without Democratic support. Governor Cooper’s administration has clashed with the Republican-led Legislature in the past, leading to further tensions between the two parties.

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