VIDEO: Why it matters that the NC Republican supermajority is over

Cardinal & Pine's Michael McElroy explains why the end of the NC Republican supermajority is meaningful. (@cardinalandpine on Instagram)

By Michael McElroy

November 25, 2024

Cardinal & Pine’s Michael McElroy explains why the end of the NC Republican supermajority in the General Assembly isn’t just a big deal for political insiders. It could have a big impact on your life.

North Carolina’s Republican-controlled General Assembly returned to Raleigh last week and overrode Gov. Roy Cooper’s veto of a major spending bill, which will budget $463 million more on publicly-funded private school vouchers.

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The money will be available to families, regardless of the family’s income level, to spend on enrolling their children in private schools. But this could be one of the last vetos Republicans will be able to override for a while.

Democrats broke the Republican supermajority in the NC House in the election this month, meaning the GOP will be unable to override any vetoes from governor-elect, Democrat Josh Stein, without getting at least one Democrat to join them.

Last year, Republicans overrode several vetoes from Cooper, including his veto of their 12-week abortion ban, the first voucher expansion bill, and several laws that made it harder to vote.

In other words, Republicans will have to negotiate in 2025 over important things like education, healthcare access, and more. Watch below.

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Author

Michael McElroy

Michael McElroy is Cardinal & Pine's political correspondent. He is an adjunct instructor at UNC-Chapel Hill's Hussman School of Journalism and Media, and a former editor at The New York Times.

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CATEGORIES: LOCAL VIDEO

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