Governor of North Carolina

North Carolina Governor

General information
Office Type: | Partisan
Office website: | Official Link
Compensation: | $165,750
2025 FY Budget: | $6,771,035
Term limits: | Two consecutive terms
Structure
Length of term: |  4 years
Authority: | North Carolina Constitution, Article III, Section I
Selection Method: | Elected
Current Officeholder

Governor of North Carolina Roy Cooper
Democratic Party
Assumed office: January 1, 2017

Elections
Next election: | November 5, 2024
Last election: | November 3, 2020
Other North Carolina Executive Offices
Governor • Lieutenant Governor • Secretary of State • Attorney General • Treasurer • Auditor • Superintendent of Education • Agriculture Commissioner • Insurance Commissioner • Natural Resources Commissioner • Labor Commissioner • Public Service Commission

The Governor of the State of North Carolina is an elected constitutional officer, the head of the executive branch and the highest state office in North Carolina. The governor is popularly elected every four years by a plurality and is limited to two consecutive terms.[1]

North Carolina has a divided government where neither party holds a trifecta. The Democratic Party controls the office of governor, while the Republican Party controls both chambers of the state legislature.

North Carolina has a Democratic triplex. The Democratic Party controls the offices of governor, secretary of state, and attorney general.

See also: North Carolina State Legislature, North Carolina House of Representatives, North Carolina State Senate

## Contents

* 1 Current officer
* 2 Authority
* 3 Qualifications
* 4 Vacancies
* 5 Duties
* 6 Elections
* 6.1 2024
* 6.2 2020
* 6.3 2016
* 6.4 Term limits
* 6.5 Partisan composition
* 6.6 Full history
* 6.7 2012
* 6.8 2008
* 7 Fact checks
* 8 Divisions
* 9 State budget
* 9.1 Role in state budget
* 9.2 Governor's office budget
* 10 Compensation
* 10.1 2022
* 10.2 2021
* 10.3 2020
* 10.4 2019
* 10.5 2018
* 10.6 2017
* 10.7 2016
* 10.8 2015
* 10.9 2014
* 10.10 2013
* 10.11 2010
* 11 Historical officeholders
* 12 History
* 12.1 Partisan balance 1992-2013
* 12.1.1 SQLI and Partisanship
* 13 Noteworthy events
* 13.1 Conflicts between Gov. Roy Cooper and the General Assembly of North Carolina
* 14 State profile
* 14.1 Presidential voting pattern
* 14.1.1 Pivot Counties (2016)
* 14.1.2 Pivot Counties (2020)
* 15 Contact information
* 16 See also
* 17 External links
* 18 Footnotes

## Current officer[edit]

The 75th and current governor is Roy Cooper (D).[2] Cooper defeated Pat McCrory (R) in the general election on November 8, 2016. He assumed office on January 1, 2017.[3]

## Authority[edit]

The state Constitution addresses the office of the governor in Article III, the Executive Department.

Under Article III, Section I:

The executive power of the State shall be vested in the Governor.[1]

## Qualifications[edit]

State Executives

Current Governors
Gubernatorial Elections
2024 • 2023 • 2022 • 2021 • 2020 • 2019 • 2018 • 2017 • 2016 • 2015 • 2014
Current Lt. Governors
Lt. Governor Elections
2024 • 2023 • 2022 • 2021 • 2020 • 2019 • 2018 • 2017 • 2016 • 2015 • 2014

Candidates for the office of the governor must be:

* at least 30 years old
* a citizen of the United States for at least five years
* a resident of North Carolina for at least two years

Additionally, no governor-elect may take office until he or she has taken an oath before the chief justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court.[1]

## Vacancies[edit]

See also: How gubernatorial vacancies are filled

Details of vacancies are addressed under Article III, Section 3.

The lieutenant Governor-elect takes office as the governor if the governor-elect fails to qualify. The lieutenant governor also takes over as governor any time the sitting governor dies, resigns, or is removed from office.

If the governor is absent or unable to discharge the office due to mental or physical illness, the lieutenant governor becomes the acting governor.

If the governor wishes to declare his or her temporary or permanent inability to discharge the office, he or she does so in writing, making a declaration to the attorney general. The governor may also resume the office by making a similar written declaration to the attorney general.

The General Assembly of North Carolina may take a vote and declare, by a two-thirds majority of both chambers, that the governor is unfit for the office by reason of mental incapacity. The legislature shall then give the governor notice and hear the case before a joint session. When the legislature is in recess, the General Council may convene for the same purpose and follow the same procedure.

Removing the governor from office for any other reason must be done as an impeachment.

## Duties[edit]

Excepting the governor's use of the State Seal of North Carolina and the gubernatorial power to make vacancy appointments, all constitutional duties are laid out in Article III, Section 5.

The governor heads the Council of State. The governor is responsible for preparing and presenting the state budget to the General Assembly of North Carolina. Additionally, the governor of North Carolina has extensive powers of appointment of executive branch officials, some judges, and members of boards and commissions. The governor serves as commander-in-chief of the state military forces except in cases when they are deployed by the federal government.

Other duties and privileges of the office include:

* Residing at the official residence of the Governor

* Making a periodic address to the state legislature concerning the state of North Carolina and giving recommendations to the legislature

* Regularly monitoring the state budget to ensure that principal and interest on bonds and notes are paid promptly, and "effect[ing] the necessary economies" if revenue will not be sufficient to meet expenditures

* Granting "reprieves, commutations, and pardons," not including convictions for impeachment

* Convening extraordinary sessions of the state legislature

* Appointing all offices "not otherwise provided for" subject to the approval of the Senate

* Requiring written information from the head of any administrative department or office on the state of the office

* Reorganizing the executive branch by making "such changes in the allocation of offices and agencies and in the allocation of those functions, powers, and duties as he considers necessary for efficient administration"

* Reconvening the regular session of the General Assembly, not more than 40 days after sine die, for the sole purpose of reconsidering bills vetoed by the Governor

* Keeping and using "The Great Seal of the State of North Carolina" and signing all commissions granted by the state of North Carolina (§ 10)

* Making vacancy appointments to all other executive offices established by the constitution, including interim appointments[1]

## Elections[edit]

North Carolina state government organizational chart

North Carolina elects governors in the presidential elections, that is, in leap years. For North Carolina, 2020, 2024, 2028, and 2032 are all gubernatorial election years. Legally, the gubernatorial inauguration is always set for the first day in the January following an election.[1]

### 2024[edit]

See also: North Carolina gubernatorial election, 2024

#### General election

##### General election for Governor of North Carolina

Josh Stein, Mark K. Robinson, Vinny Smith, Wayne Turner, and Mike Ross are running in the general election for Governor of North Carolina on November 5, 2024.

Candidate

|

| Josh Stein (D)

| Mark K. Robinson (R)

| Vinny Smith (Constitution Party)

| Wayne Turner (G)

| Mike Ross (L)

* * *

There are no incumbents in this race.

|

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#### Democratic primary election

#####  Democratic primary for Governor of North Carolina

Josh Stein defeated Michael R. Morgan, Chrelle Booker, Marcus Williams, and Gary Foxx in the Democratic primary for Governor of North Carolina on March 5, 2024.

Candidate

Votes

|
|
|

| Josh Stein |

69.6

| 479,026

| Michael R. Morgan|

14.3

| 98,627

| Chrelle Booker|

6.7

| 46,045

| Marcus Williams|

5.7

| 39,257

| Gary Foxx|

3.7

| 25,283

* * *

There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source

| Total votes: 688,238

|
|

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#### Republican primary election

#####  Republican primary for Governor of North Carolina

Mark K. Robinson defeated Dale Folwell and Bill Graham in the Republican primary for Governor of North Carolina on March 5, 2024.

Candidate

Votes

|
|
|

| Mark K. Robinson|

64.8

| 666,504

| Dale Folwell|

19.2

| 196,955

| Bill Graham|

16.0

| 164,572

* * *

There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source

| Total votes: 1,028,031

|
|

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#### Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

* Andy Wells (R)
* Mark Walker (R)
* Jesse Thomas (R)

#### Green primary election

The Green primary election was canceled. Wayne Turner advanced from the Green primary for Governor of North Carolina.

#### Libertarian primary election

#####  Libertarian primary for Governor of North Carolina

Mike Ross defeated Shannon Bray in the Libertarian primary for Governor of North Carolina on March 5, 2024.

Candidate

Votes

|
|
|

| Mike Ross|

59.4

| 2,910

| Shannon Bray|

40.6

| 1,985

* * *

There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source

| Total votes: 4,895

|
|

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### 2020[edit]

See also: North Carolina gubernatorial election, 2020

#### General election

##### General election for Governor of North Carolina

Incumbent Roy Cooper defeated Dan Forest, Steven DiFiore II, and Al Pisano in the general election for Governor of North Carolina on November 3, 2020.

Candidate

Votes

|
|
|

| Roy Cooper (D) |

51.5

| 2,834,790

| Dan Forest (R) |

47.0

| 2,586,605

| Steven DiFiore II (L) |

1.1

| 60,449

| Al Pisano (Constitution Party) |

0.4

| 20,934

* * *

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

| Total votes: 5,502,778

|
|

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#### Democratic primary election

#####  Democratic primary for Governor of North Carolina

Incumbent Roy Cooper defeated Ernest Reeves in the Democratic primary for Governor of North Carolina on March 3, 2020.

Candidate

Votes

|
|
|

| Roy Cooper|

87.2

| 1,128,829

| Ernest Reeves|

12.8

| 165,804

* * *

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

| Total votes: 1,294,633

|
|

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#### Republican primary election

#####  Republican primary for Governor of North Carolina

Dan Forest defeated Holly Grange in the Republican primary for Governor of North Carolina on March 3, 2020.

Candidate

Votes

|
|
|

| Dan Forest|

89.0

| 698,077

| Holly Grange|

11.0

| 86,714

* * *

There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source

| Total votes: 784,791

|
|

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### 2016[edit]

See also: North Carolina gubernatorial election, 2016

The general election for governor was held on November 8, 2016.

Roy Cooper defeated incumbent Pat McCrory and Lon Cecil in the North Carolina governor election.

North Carolina Governor, 2016

Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes
| Democratic  |  Roy Cooper | 49.02% | 2,309,190
| Republican  | Pat McCrory Incumbent | 48.80% | 2,298,927
| Libertarian  | Lon Cecil | 2.19% | 102,986
Total Votes | 4,711,103
Source: North Carolina Secretary of State

### Term limits[edit]

See also: States with gubernatorial term limits

North Carolina governors are restricted to two consecutive terms in office, after which they must wait one term before being eligible to run again.

North Carolina Constitution, Article III, Section 2, Paragraph 2

No person elected to the office of Governor ... shall be eligible for election to more than two consecutive terms of the same office.[1]

### Partisan composition[edit]

The chart below shows the partisan breakdown of North Carolina governors from 1992 to 2013.

### Full history[edit]

To view the electoral history dating back to 2000 for the office of Governor of North Carolina, click [show] to expand the section.

|

### 2012

See also: North Carolina gubernatorial election, 2012

Bev Perdue (D) did not run for re-election. Pat McCrory (R) defeated Walter Dalton (D) in the November 6, 2012 general election.

| Governor of North Carolina General Election, 2012

Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes
| Democratic  |  Walter Dalton  | 43.2% | 1,931,580
| Republican  | Pat McCrory | 54.6% | 2,440,707
| Libertarian  |  Barbara Howe  | 2.1% | 94,652
| Write-in  |  Various | 0% | 1,356
Total Votes | 4,468,295
Election results via NC State Board of Elections

### 2008

On November 4, 2008, Bev Perdue won election to the office of Governor of North Carolina. She defeated Pat McCrory and Michael Munger in the general election.

Governor of North Carolina, 2008

Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes
| Democratic  | Bev Perdue | 50.3% | 2,146,189
| Republican  |  Pat McCrory  | 46.9% | 2,001,168
| Libertarian  |  Michael C. Munger  | 2.8% | 121,584
Total Votes | 4,268,941
Election results via North Carolina State Board of Elections.

2004

On November 2, 2004, Mike Easley won re-election to the office of Governor of North Carolina. He defeated Patrick Ballantine and Barbara Howe in the general election.

Governor of North Carolina, 2004

Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes
| Democratic  | Mike Easley Incumbent | 55.6% | 1,939,154
| Republican  |  Patrick J. Ballantine  | 42.9% | 1,495,021
| Libertarian  |  Barbara Howe  | 1.5% | 52,513
Total Votes | 3,486,688
Election results via North Carolina State Board of Elections.

2000

On November 7, 2000, Mike Easley won election to the office of Governor of North Carolina. He defeated Richard Vinroot, Barbara Howe and Douglas Schell in the general election.

Governor of North Carolina, 2000

Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes
| Democratic  | Mike Easley | 52% | 1,530,324
| Republican  |  Richard Vinroot  | 46.3% | 1,360,960
| Libertarian  |  Barbara Howe  | 1.5% | 42,674
| Reform  |  Douglas Schell  | 0.3% | 8,104
Total Votes | 2,942,062
Election results via North Carolina State Board of Elections.

## Fact checks[edit]

Fact check/Did recent bills limit North Carolina's gubernatorial powers? January 27, 2017

A Huffington Post article on North Carolina's legislative battles claimed that recently passed bills "drastically limit [Democratic Gov. Roy] Cooper’s ability to make appointments to various state boards and departments."
Did recent bills "drastically limit" Gov. Cooper’s ability to make state board and department appointments? Read Ballotpedia's fact check »

## Divisions[edit]

Note: Ballotpedia's state executive officials project researches state official websites for information that describes the divisions (if any exist) of a state executive office. That information for the Governor of North Carolina has not yet been added. After extensive research we were unable to identify any relevant information on state official websites. If you have any additional information about this office for inclusion on this section and/or page, please email us.

## State budget[edit]

### Role in state budget[edit]

See also: North Carolina state budget and finances

The state operates on a biennial budget cycle. The sequence of key events in the budget process is as follows:[4]

1. Budget instructions are sent to state agencies in October.
2. State agency budget requests are submitted in December.
3. The governor submits his or her proposed budget to the North Carolina State Legislature in March.
4. The legislature adopts a budget between June and August. A simple majority is required to pass a budget.
5. The biennial budget cycle begins in July.

North Carolina is one of six states in which the governor cannot exercise line item veto authority.[4][5]

The governor is constitutionally and statutorily required to submit a balanced budget. Likewise, the legislature is constitutionally and statutorily required to pass a balanced budget.[4]

### Governor's office budget[edit]

The budget for the governor's office in Fiscal Year 2025 was $6,771,035.[6]

## Compensation[edit]

See also: Comparison of gubernatorial salaries and Compensation of state executive officers

The governor, along with the rest of North Carolina's elected executives, is entitled to a fixed salary in accordance with Article III, Section 9 of the North Carolina Constitution:

The officers whose offices are established by this Article shall at stated periods receive the compensation and allowances prescribed by law, which shall not be diminished during the time for which they have been chosen.[1]

### 2022[edit]

In 2022, the officer's salary was $165,750, according to the Council of State Governments.[7]

### 2021[edit]

In 2021, the governor received a salary of $154,743, according to the Council of State Governments.[8]

### 2020[edit]

In 2020, the governor received a salary of $150,969, according to the Council of State Governments.[9]

### 2019[edit]

In 2019, the governor received a salary of $144,349, according to the Council of State Governments.[10]

### 2018[edit]

In 2018, the governor received a salary of $144,349, according to the Council of State Governments.[11]

### 2017[edit]

In 2017, the governor received a salary of $144,349, according to the Council of State Governments.[12]

### 2016[edit]

In 2016, the governor received a salary of $142,265, according to the Council of State Governments.[13]

### 2015[edit]

In 2015, the governor's salary was increased to $142,265, according to the Council of State Governments.[14]

### 2014[edit]

In 2014, the governor received a salary of $141,265, according to the Council of State Governments.[15]

### 2013[edit]

In 2013, the governor's salary was increased to $141,265.[16]

### 2010[edit]

In 2010, the governor was paid $139,590 a year, the 20th highest gubernatorial salary in America.[17]

## Historical officeholders[edit]

There have been 75 governors of North Carolina since 1776. Of the 75 officeholders, 39 were Democratic, 12 Democratic-Republican, eight Republican, five Federalists, five Whigs, four with no party, and two Anti-Federalists.[18]

List of officeholders from 1776-present

#  | Name  | Tenure  | Party
1 | Richard Caswell | 1776 - 1780 | No Party
2 | Abner Nash | 1780 - 1781 | No Party
3 | Thomas Burke | 1781 - 1782 | No Party
4 | Alexander Martin | 1782 - 1785 | Federalist
5 | Richard Caswell | 1785 – 1787 | No Party
6 | Samuel Johnston | 1787 - 1789 | Federalist
7 | Alexander Martin | 1789 – 1792 | Federalist
8 | Richard Dobbs Spaight | 1792 - 1795 | Anti-Federalist
9 | Samuel Ashe | 1795 - 1798 | Anti-Federalist
10 | William Richardson Davie | 1798 - 1799 | Federalist
11 | Benjamin Williams | 1799 - 1802 | Democratic-Republican
12 | James Turner | 1802 - 1805 | Democratic-Republican
13 | Nathaniel Alexander | 1805 - 1807 | Democratic-Republican
14 | Benjamin Williams | 1807 – 1808 | Democratic-Republican
15 | David Stone | 1808 - 1810 | Democratic-Republican
16 | Benjamin Smith | 1810 - 1811 | Democratic-Republican
17 | William Hawkins | 1811 - 1814 | Democratic-Republican
18 | William Miller | 1814 - 1817 | Democratic-Republican
19 | John Branch | 1817 - 1820 | Democratic-Republican
20 | Jesse Franklin | 1820 - 1821 | Democratic-Republican
21 | Gabriel Holmes | 1821 - 1824 | Democratic-Republican
22 | Hutchins Gordon Burton | 1824 - 1827 | Federalist
23 | James Iredell | 1827 - 1828 | Democratic-Republican
24 | John Owen | 1828 - 1830 |  Democratic
25 | Montfort Stokes | 1830 - 1832 |  Democratic
26 | David Lowry Swain | 1832 - 1835 | Whig
27 | Richard Dobbs Spaight | 1835 - 1836 |  Democratic
28 | Edward Bishop Dudley | 1836 - 1841 | Whig
29 | John Motley Morehead | 1841 - 1845 | Whig
30 | William Alexander Graham | 1845 - 1849 | Whig
31 | Charles Manly | 1849 - 1850 | Whig
32 | David Settle Reid | 1851 - 1854 |  Democratic
33 | Warren Winslow | 1854 - 1855 |  Democratic
34 | Thomas Bragg | 1855 - 1859 |  Democratic
35 | John Willis Ellis | 1859 - 1861 |  Democratic
36 | Henry Toole Clark | 1861 - 1862 |  Democratic
37 | Zebulon Baird Vance | 1862 - 1865 |  Democratic
38 | William Woods Holden | 1865 - 1865 |  Republican
39 | Jonathan Worth | 1865 - 1868 |  Democratic
40 | William Woods Holden | 1868 – 1870 |  Republican
41 | Tod Robinson Caldwell | 1870 - 1874 |  Republican
42 | Curtis Hooks Brogden | 1874 - 1877 |  Republican
43 | Zebulon Baird Vance | 1877 – 1879 |  Democratic
44 | Thomas Jordan Jarvis | 1879 - 1885 |  Democratic
45 | Alfred Moore Scales | 1885 - 1889 |  Democratic
46 | Daniel Gould Fowle | 1889 - 1891 |  Democratic
47 | Thomas Michael Holt | 1891 - 1893 |  Democratic
48 | Elias Carr | 1893 - 1897 |  Democratic
49 | Daniel Lindsay Russell | 1897 - 1901 |  Republican
50 | Charles Brantley Aycock | 1901 - 1905 |  Democratic
51 | Robert Broadnax Glenn | 1905 - 1909 |  Democratic
52 | William Walton Kitchin | 1909 - 1913 |  Democratic
53 | Locke Craig | 1913 - 1917 |  Democratic
54 | Thomas Walter Bickett | 1917 - 1921 |  Democratic
55 | Cameron A. Morrison | 1921 - 1925 |  Democratic
56 | Angus Wilton Mclean | 1925 - 1929 |  Democratic
57 | Oliver Max Gardner | 1929 - 1933 |  Democratic
58 | John Christopher Blucher Ehringhaus | 1933 - 1937 |  Democratic
59 | Clyde Roark Hoey | 1937 - 1941 |  Democratic
60 | Joseph Melville Broughton | 1941 - 1945 |  Democratic
61 | Robert Gregg Cherry | 1945 - 1949 |  Democratic
62 | William Kerr Scott | 1949 - 1953 |  Democratic
63 | William Bradley Umstead | 1953 - 1954 |  Democratic
64 | Luther Hartwell Hodges | 1954 - 1961 |  Democratic
65 | James Terry Sanford | 1961 - 1965 |  Democratic
66 | Dan Killian Moore | 1965 - 1969 |  Democratic
67 | Robert Walter Scott | 1969 - 1973 |  Democratic
68 | James E. Holshouser | 1973 - 1977 |  Republican
69 | James B. Hunt | 1977 - 1985 |  Democratic
70 | James G Martin | 1985 - 1993 |  Republican
71 | James B. Hunt | 1993 – 2001 |  Democratic
72 | Michael F. Easley | 2001 - 2009 |  Democratic
73 | Bev Perdue | 2009 - 2013 |  Democratic
74 | Pat McCrory | 2013 – 2017 |  Republican
75 | Roy Cooper | 2017 – present |  Democratic

## History[edit]

### Partisan balance 1992-2013[edit]

See also: Ballotpedia:Who Runs the States and Ballotpedia:Who Runs the States, North Carolina

Partisan breakdown of the North Carolina governorship from 1992-2013

From 1992 to 2013 in North Carolina, there were Democratic governors in office for 20 years, while there were Republican governors in office the two years, including the final year (2013). North Carolina is one of seven states that were run by a Democratic governor for more than 80 percent of the years between 1992 and 2013. North Carolina was under a Republican trifecta for the final year of the study period.

Across the country, there were 493 years of Democratic governors (44.82%) and 586 years of Republican governors (53.27%) from 1992 to 2013.

Over the course of the 22-year study, state governments became increasingly more partisan. At the outset of the study period (1992), 18 of the 49 states with partisan legislatures had single-party trifectas and 31 states had divided governments. In 2013, only 13 states had divided governments, while single-party trifectas held sway in 36 states, the most in the 22 years studied.

The chart below shows the partisan composition of the Office of the Governor of North Carolina, the North Carolina State Senate and the North Carolina House of Representatives from 1992 to 2013.

#### SQLI and Partisanship[edit]

The chart below depicts the partisanship of the North Carolina state government and the State Quality of Life Index (SQLI) ranking for the years studied. For the SQLI, the states were ranked from 1-50, with 1 being the best and 50 the worst. During the years of the study, North Carolina experienced many years under a Democratic trifecta, from 1993 to 1994 and from 1999 to 2010. In 2013, however, this trend switched, and the state experienced a Republican trifecta instead. North Carolina's SQLI rating was in the 30s for most of the years of the study, with its lowest ranking in 2003, finishing 41st. However, in more recent years of the study, the state's ranking improved. Its highest ranking was 11th in 2011 during a divided government.

* SQLI average with Democratic trifecta: 30.08
* SQLI average with Republican trifecta: N/A
* SQLI average with divided government: 30.89

Chart displaying the partisanship of North Carolina government from 1992-2013 and the State Quality of Life Index (SQLI).

## Noteworthy events[edit]

### Conflicts between Gov. Roy Cooper and the General Assembly of North Carolina[edit]

See also: Conflicts between Gov. Roy Cooper and the General Assembly of North Carolina

Former Gov. Pat McCrory (R)

The 2016 election changed the political landscape of North Carolina. Before the election, Republicans held a state government trifecta, meaning they controlled the governor's office and both chambers of the legislature. As a result of the 2016 election, however, Democrats took control of the governor's office, while Republicans held a 35-15 majority in the Senate and a 74-46 majority in the House, giving them the three-fifths majority needed in each chamber to override gubernatorial vetoes. In losing the 2016 election, incumbent Gov. Pat McCrory (R) became the first North Carolina governor in North Carolina history to lose in a bid for re-election. He was defeated by North Carolina Attorney General Roy Cooper (D) by 10,263 votes. McCrory did not concede the race until almost a month after the election. He requested a recount since unofficial vote totals had him within 10,000 votes of Cooper.[19]

Gov. Roy Cooper (D)

Following McCrory's concession, conflicts began to emerge between Cooper and the General Assembly of North Carolina. Before Cooper (D) was sworn in, the Republican-controlled legislature began passing legislation that Democrats argued was intended to curtail the governor's power. Legislation included efforts to restructure the state board of elections, to require Senate approval of cabinet-level appointments, and to decrease the number of governor-appointed judges on the North Carolina Court of Appeals. Senate Minority Leader Dan Blue (D) said of the legislation, "What we’re dealing with is a political disaster. Let’s deal with the reality: It’s a power grab. If McCrory had won the election, we wouldn’t be here now, reducing the number of positions he has control over."[20] Cooper said that the legislation had been "unconstitutional and anything but bipartisan."[21]

Republicans maintained that the legislation had been discussed for years and that it was returning power to the legislature that was taken away by Democrats years before.[22] Sen. Chad Barefoot (R) said the legislation returned "power that was grabbed during Democratic administrations in the 1990s, and some in the '70s."[23] Republican Rep. David Lewis said of the legislation, "I think, to be candid with you, that you will see the General Assembly look to reassert its constitutional authority in areas that may have been previously delegated to the executive branch."[24]

| Fact checks:

|

• Did recent bills limit North Carolina's gubernatorial powers?
• Did the North Carolina legislature eliminate state supreme court oversight of the General Assembly?

The following timeline details some of the conflicts between Gov. Roy Cooper (D) and the General Assembly of North Carolina during Cooper's first two years in office. Some legislation highlighted in the timeline are bills that Cooper said were intended to undermine his authority as governor.

| Timeline of conflicts between Gov. Cooper and the legislature

Date | Event
December 27, 2018 | The legislature overturned the governor's veto of HB 1029. HB 1029 included provisions to restructure the state Board of Elections and authorize the board to call for new primary elections. It also established a four-year statute of limitations on investigations into campaign finance violations.[25]
November 6, 2018 | Voters rejected the Legislative Appointments to Elections Board Amendment and Judicial Selection for Midterm Vacancies Amendment, which would have transferred some of the governor's powers to the state legislature.
October 16, 2018 | A three-judge panel on the Wake County Superior Court ruled that parts of Senate Bill 68 and House Bill 90 were unconstitutional. The court said the laws violated the separation of powers clause.
August 4, 2018 | The General Assembly of North Carolina overrode Gov. Cooper's veto of SB 3 and HB 3. SB 3 prohibits North Carolina Supreme Court candidates from running with a party affiliation if they registered with the party less than 90 days before the filing deadline. HB 3 transfers the responsibility of writing ballot measure titles from the Constitutional Amendments Publication Commission to the General Assembly.
June 28, 2018 | The General Assembly of North Carolina referred the Judicial Selection for Midterm Vacancies Amendment to the ballot for the election on November 6, 2018. Two Republicans voted against the amendment, meaning 106 of 108 non-absent Republicans voted for the amendment. No Democrats supported the amendment. The measure would remove the governor's power to fill judicial vacancies and instead require a commission to develop a list of candidates, legislators to narrow the list down to two candidates, and the governor to select the final nominee.
June 27, 2018 | The General Assembly of North Carolina referred the Legislative Appointments to Elections Board and Commissions Amendment to the ballot for the election on November 6, 2018. More than 99 percent (106/107) of Republican legislators supported the amendment. One Democrat supported the amendment. The measure would remove the governor's power to make appointments to the elections and ethics board, meaning legislative leaders would make all eight appointments to the board, and provide that the legislature controls the powers, duties, appointments, and terms of office for state boards and commissions.
June 20, 2018 | The General Assembly of North Carolina overrode Gov. Cooper's veto of SB 486 and SB 757. SB 486 barred candidates who sought, but failed, to secure the nomination of a political party from running as a third-party candidate in the general election. It also required criminal background checks for election workers and directed judges to list political affiliation on the ballot. SB 757 changed judicial elections in Wake and Mecklenburg counties into districtwide, rather than countywide, elections.
June 12, 2018 | The General Assembly of North Carolina overturned Gov. Cooper's veto of Senate Bill 99, a $23.9 billion budget bill. Cooper had vetoed the bill on June 6, 2018.
March 16, 2018 | Gov. Cooper allowed House Bill 90 to become law without his signature. HB 90 proposed changing the number and partisan affiliation of state board of elections members.
March 13, 2018 | Gov. Cooper filed a motion challenging House Bill 90. The bill proposed changing the state board of elections.
January 26, 2018 | The North Carolina Supreme Court reversed a lower court's decision that Senate Bill 68 was constitutional. The supreme court returned the case to the lower court for a second decision.
October 17, 2017 | The General Assembly of North Carolina adjourned its 2017 session. In total, Gov. Cooper vetoed 13 bills in 2017. Republicans used their veto-proof majority in the legislature to override 10 vetoes.
August 30, 2017 | The North Carolina state legislature voted to override House Bill 770. HB 770, which is composed of multiple law changes, would reduce Gov. Cooper's power to appoint members to the North Carolina Medical Board. Cooper had six appointments to the board, but HB 770 removed two of Cooper's appointments and let legislative leaders choose the two members instead. Cooper called it "an intrusion on executive authority." The bill also clarified that state employees can draw another salary for additional work on the state’s Property Tax Commission. (House vote: 71-44; Senate vote: 30-9)
August 14, 2017 | Gov. Cooper vetoed a regulatory bill (Senate Bill 16) and a bill that would decrease Cooper's power to appoint members to the North Carolina Medical Board. Cooper had six appointments to the board, but House Bill 770 took away two of Cooper's appointments and let legislative leaders choose the two members. Cooper called it "an intrusion on executive authority."
August 8, 2017 | Gov. Cooper expanded his May 2017 lawsuit. He filed a legal brief on August 8 over provisions in the budget that he called unconstitutional. One provision required the governor to include money in future budget proposals for a school voucher program. Another provision directed how to spend federal block grants and the state's share of the Volkswagen settlement. Jim Phillips, Gov. Cooper's attorney, wrote in the lawsuit, "By dictating what the governor must include in his proposed budget, the General Assembly is exercising core executive power in violation of separation of powers."
June 28, 2017 | Gov. Roy Cooper vetoed Senate Bill 257, the $23 billion budget. The Senate voted 34-14 and the House voted 76-43 to override the veto. The spending plan became law.
June 21, 2017 | The General Assembly of North Carolina passed a $23 billion budget. The budget included a provision that limits Gov. Cooper's ability to hire private lawyers to challenge legislation passed by the Republican-led legislature. It also transferred the state Industrial Commission, which was under control of an agency in Gov. Cooper's cabinet, to the state insurance commissioner. This position was held by a Republican. (House vote: 77-40; Senate vote: 39-11)
June 15, 2017 | A three-judge panel rejected Gov. Cooper's request to block Senate Bill 68 pending his appeal. Senate Bill 68 proposed merging the state elections board and ethics commission and splitting the new board between Democrats and Republicans. On June 1, 2017, a three-judge panel unanimously dismissed Gov. Cooper’s lawsuit that challenged the constitutionality of Senate Bill 68.
June 8, 2017 | The U.S. Supreme Court affirmed the federal court decision in North Carolina v. Covington on June 5, 2017. In August 2016, a federal court ordered 28 state legislative district maps in North Carolina to be redrawn because they misrepresented the racial groups living in the districts. In reaction to the U.S. Supreme Court decision, Gov. Roy Cooper (D) called a special session of the legislature to begin on June 8, 2017, to redraw the state’s legislative district maps. The General Assembly of North Carolina voted on June 8, 2017, to cancel the special session because Cooper did not have the constitutional authority to call the session because there was not an “extraordinary occasion" to call a special session, as required by the state constitution.
June 1, 2017 | A three-judge panel in North Carolina unanimously dismissed Gov. Cooper’s lawsuit that challenged the constitutionality of Senate Bill 68. In April 2017, Gov. Roy Cooper (D) filed a lawsuit to block the bill from taking effect after the legislature overrode his veto of the bill. The legislation proposed merging the state elections board and ethics commission and split the new board between Democrats and Republicans.
May 26, 2017 | Gov. Cooper filed his third lawsuit against the Republican-led legislature over his appointment powers. He sued over House Bill 239, which reduced the number of judges on the appellate bench from 15 to 12. The legislation also prohibited Gov. Cooper from filling the next three vacancies on the court and required them to go unfilled. He also sued over a section of Senate Bill 4, which gave then-Gov. Pat McCrory the power to make a one-time appointment to fill a vacancy on the state Industrial Commission for a six-year term plus the unexpired portion of the commissioner’s term.
April 28, 2017 | A three-judge panel temporarily blocked Senate Bill 68. This legislation proposed merging the state elections board and ethics commission and split the new board between Democrats and Republicans. A law similar to Senate Bill 68 was ruled unconstitutional on March 17, 2017.
April 26, 2017 | The General Assembly of North Carolina voted to override Gov. Cooper’s veto of House Bill 239. The legislation reduced the number of judges on the appellate bench from 15 to 12. The legislation also prohibited Gov. Cooper from filling the next three vacancies on the court and required them to go unfilled. (Senate vote: 34-15; House vote: 73-44) Gov. Cooper filed a lawsuit to block Senate Bill 68 from taking effect.
April 25, 2017 | The General Assembly of North Carolina voted to override Gov. Cooper’s veto of Senate Bill 68. The legislation proposed merging the state elections board and ethics commission and split the new board between Democrats and Republicans. A three-judge panel found a law similar to Senate Bill 68 unconstitutional on March 17, 2017. Lawyers for House Speaker Tim Moore and Senate leader Phil Berger filed motions with the court asking that previous rulings on the merging of the two boards be vacated. (Senate vote: 33-15; House vote: 75-44.)
April 24, 2017 | Judge Doug McCullough, a Republican, retired early from the appellate bench so that Gov. Cooper (D) could appoint his replacement. McCullough said at his retirement announcement, "I did not want my legacy to be the elimination of a seat and the impairment of a court that I have served on." Cooper appointed Democrat John Arrowood to the bench. House Bill 239, which Cooper vetoed on April 21, 2017, reduced the number of judges on the appellate bench from 15 to 12. The legislation also prohibited Gov. Cooper from filling the next three vacancies on the court and would require them to go unfilled.
April 21, 2017 | Gov. Cooper (D) vetoed House Bill 239 and Senate Bill 68.
April 11, 2017 | The General Assembly of North Carolina sent House Bill 239 and Senate Bill 68 to Gov. Cooper.
March 23, 2017 | The General Assembly of North Carolina voted to override Gov. Cooper's veto of House Bill 100. The law made Superior Court and District Court judicial elections partisan. North Carolina became the seventh state to enact partisan judicial elections. (Senate vote: 32-15; House vote: 74-44)
March 17, 2017 | A three-judge panel found two laws unconstitutional: Senate Bill 4, which would overhaul the state and county board of elections, and House Bill 17, which would cut the number of exempt employees that the governor could appoint. The court also found that House Bill 17, which required Senate approval of the governor's cabinet appointments, did not violate the constitution.
March 16, 2017 | Gov. Cooper (D) vetoed House Bill 100, which would have made Superior Court and District Court judicial elections partisan.
March 8, 2017 | The General Assembly of North Carolina passed House Bill 100. (House vote: 74-43; Senate vote: 32-15)
February 14, 2017 | A three-judge panel rejected Gov. Cooper's request to continue to block the law that required Senate confirmation of his cabinet appointments. (House Bill 17)
February 13, 2017 | The North Carolina Supreme Court reinstated the order to temporarily block the overhaul of the election boards. (Senate Bill 4)
February 10, 2017 | The North Carolina Court of Appeals temporarily reinstated Senate Bill 4.
February 8, 2017 | A three-judge panel temporarily blocked the North Carolina law that required Senate approval of the governor's cabinet appointments. (House Bill 17)
January 10, 2017 | Gov. Cooper amended his lawsuit against Senate Bill 4 to include elements of House Bill 17. Cooper looked to block the parts of the law that would require Senate approval of cabinet positions and the law that would reduce the number of people that the governor could appoint to exempt positions.
January 5, 2017 | A three-judge panel ruled that the law to overhaul the state and county board of elections would not take effect until Gov. Cooper's lawsuit was resolved. (Senate Bill 4)
January 1, 2017 | Cooper (D) was sworn in as the 75th governor of North Carolina.
December 30, 2016 | Cooper (D), as governor-elect, filed a lawsuit to block Senate Bill 4. Wake County Superior Court Judge Don Stephens temporarily blocked Senate Bill 4 from going into effect on January 1, 2017.
December 19, 2016 | Gov. McCrory (R) signed House Bill 17, which required the governor's cabinet appointments to be approved by the Senate and eliminated the governor's power to appoint members to the UNC board of trustees. The bill also reduced the number of people that the governor could appoint to exempt positions from 1,500 to 425. Jobs designated as exempt allow the governor to hire or fire state employees at will. The General Assembly of North Carolina passed House Bill 17 on December 16, 2016. (House vote: 61-23; Senate vote: 24-13)
December 16, 2016 | Gov. McCrory (R) signed Senate Bill 4 on December 16, 2016, less than an hour after it passed the legislature. The bill expanded the state board of elections from five to eight members and equally split the board's membership between Democrats and Republicans. Before the law, the governor appointed three of five members to the state board of elections and two of three members to each county board. After the law, the governor would appoint four of eight members to the state board of elections, while Republicans would pick the other four. The governor would also choose two members on each county board. Republicans would choose the other two members. The bill also made state Supreme Court elections partisan. (House vote: 63-27 vote; Senate vote: 26-12.)
December 5, 2016 | Gov. McCrory (R) conceded his bid for re-election to Roy Cooper (D). Cooper received 49.02% of the vote to McCrory's 48.80%. McCrory lost the race by 10,263 votes. Prior to the 2016 elections, Republicans controlled the Senate, House, and governor's office. As a result of the election, Republicans lost control of the governor's office and NC became one of 19 states under divided government.
November 22, 2016 | Gov. McCrory requested a recount by the state board of elections because unofficial vote totals had Gov. McCrory within 10,000 votes of Cooper.
November 8, 2016 | Gov. Pat McCrory (R) faced Roy Cooper (D) in the general election, but the race was too close to call on election night. Republicans gained one seat in the state Senate, and Democrats gained one seat in the state House in the November 2016 election. Following the election, Republicans held a 35-15 majority in the Senate and a 74-46 majority in the House.

## State profile[edit]

Demographic data for North Carolina

| North Carolina| U.S.
Total population:| 10,035,186| 316,515,021
Land area (sq mi):| 48,618| 3,531,905
Race and ethnicity**
White:| 69.5%| 73.6%
Black/African American:| 21.5%| 12.6%
Asian:| 2.5%| 5.1%
Native American:| 1.2%| 0.8%
Pacific Islander:| 0.1%| 0.2%
Two or more:| 2.4%| 3%
Hispanic/Latino:| 8.8%| 17.1%
Education
High school graduation rate:| 85.8%| 86.7%
College graduation rate:| 28.4%| 29.8%
Income
Median household income:| $46,868| $53,889
Persons below poverty level:| 20.5%| 11.3%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, "American Community Survey" (5-year estimates 2010-2015)
Click here for more information on the 2020 census and here for more on its impact on the redistricting process in North Carolina.

* * *

**Note: Percentages for race and ethnicity may add up to more than 100 percent because respondents may report more than one race and the Hispanic/Latino ethnicity may be selected in conjunction with any race. Read more about race and ethnicity in the census here.

### Presidential voting pattern[edit]

See also: Presidential voting trends in North Carolina

North Carolina voted Republican in five out of the six presidential elections between 2000 and 2020.

#### Pivot Counties (2016)

Ballotpedia identified 206 counties that voted for Donald Trump (R) in 2016 after voting for Barack Obama (D) in 2008 and 2012. Collectively, Trump won these Pivot Counties by more than 580,000 votes. Of these 206 counties, six are located in North Carolina, accounting for 2.91 percent of the total pivot counties.[26]

#### Pivot Counties (2020)

In 2020, Ballotpedia re-examined the 206 Pivot Counties to view their voting patterns following that year's presidential election. Ballotpedia defined those won by Trump won as Retained Pivot Counties and those won by Joe Biden (D) as Boomerang Pivot Counties. Nationwide, there were 181 Retained Pivot Counties and 25 Boomerang Pivot Counties. North Carolina had six Retained Pivot Counties, 3.31 percent of all Retained Pivot Counties.

More North Carolina coverage on Ballotpedia

* Elections in North Carolina
* United States congressional delegations from North Carolina
* Public policy in North Carolina
* Endorsers in North Carolina
* North Carolina fact checks
* More...

## Contact information[edit]

Office of the Governor
20301 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-0301
Phone: (919) 814-2000

## See also[edit]

North Carolina | State Executive Elections | News and Analysis

|
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North Carolina State Executive Offices North Carolina State Legislature North Carolina Courts |  2024 • 2023 • 2022 • 2021 • 2020 • 2019 • 2018 • 2017 • 2016 North Carolina elections: 2024 • 2023 • 2022 • 2021 • 2020 • 2019 • 2018 • 2017 • 2016 |  Party control of state government State government trifectas State of the state addresses Partisan composition of governors

## External links[edit]

* Search Google News for this topic
* Office of the North Carolina Governor

## Footnotes[edit]

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 "North Carolina State Constitution," accessed January 18, 2021
2. ↑ NC Governor Roy Cooper, "Roy Cooper," accessed January 18, 2021
3. ↑ ABC 11 News, "Roy Cooper sworn in as North Carolina governor," January 1, 2017
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 National Association of State Budget Officers, "Budget Processes in the States, Spring 2021," accessed January 24, 2023
5. ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "Separation of Powers: Executive Veto Powers," accessed January 26, 2024
6. ↑ North Carolina General Assembly, "House Bill 259," accessed December 6, 2023
7. ↑ Council of State Governments, "Book of the States 2022 Table 4.11: Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," provided to Ballotpedia by CSG personnel
8. ↑ Issuu, "The Book of the States 2021," accessed September 28, 2022
9. ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2020," accessed January 18, 2021
10. ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2019," accessed January 18, 2021
11. ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2018," accessed January 18, 2021
12. ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2017," accessed January 18, 2021
13. ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2016," accessed January 18, 2021
14. ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," accessed January 18, 2021
15. ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," accessed January 18, 2021
16. ↑ Council of State Governments, "CSG Releases 2013 Governor Salaries," June 25, 2013
17. ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," accessed January 18, 2021
18. ↑ National Governors Association, "Former North Carolina Governors," accessed January 18, 2021
19. ↑ Politico, "North Carolina governor alleges voter fraud in bid to hang on," November 21, 2016
20. ↑ The Atlantic, "North Carolina's 'Legislative Coup' Is Over, and Republicans Won," December 16, 2016
21. ↑ Twitter, "Roy Cooper," December 30, 2016
22. ↑ USA Today, "GOP N.C. governor signs bill curbing Democrat successor's power," December 17, 2016
23. ↑ NY Times, "North Carolina Governor Signs Law Limiting Successor’s Power," December 16, 2016
24. ↑ CNN, "NC's GOP governor signs bill curbing successor's power," December 30, 2016
25. ↑ The Hill, "NC governor vetoes bill allowing a new primary in disputed House race," December 21, 2018
26. ↑ The raw data for this study was provided by Dave Leip of Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections.

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