North Carolina is weird. Politically speaking, it’s a total paradox. You’ve got a state that consistently votes for Republican presidential candidates, yet somehow, it almost always lands on a Democrat for the Governor’s Mansion. It’s a trend that defies the "red vs. blue" map logic we see on cable news every night.
Josh Stein is the man in the hot seat now. As of early 2026, he’s navigating the second year of his term, having succeeded Roy Cooper. Honestly, if you aren't living in Raleigh or following the General Assembly like a hawk, you might think the Governor has more power than he actually does. In reality, the governor in North Carolina holds a position that is historically—and legally—designed to be one of the weakest in the United States.
It’s a bizarre setup. For a long time, the governor didn't even have the power to veto a bill. Imagine that. The legislature could just pass whatever they wanted, and the governor basically just had to watch.
The Veto: A Power That Came Late to the Party
Most people assume every governor can veto. Nope. Not here. At least, not until 1996. North Carolina was literally the last state in the country to give its executive that power. Even now, the veto is sorta "veto-lite."
In many states, it takes a two-thirds majority to override a governor’s "no." In North Carolina? It only takes three-fifths. If the General Assembly has a supermajority—which has been the case recently—the governor in North Carolina is basically using a megaphone that the legislature can turn off whenever they want.
We saw this play out in 2025. Josh Stein used his pen to strike down bills on everything from private school firearms to immigration detention. But the GOP-led legislature simply gathered their three-fifths and walked right over those vetoes. It’s a constant tug-of-war. You have a governor who represents the statewide popular vote and a legislature that represents specific, often heavily gerrymandered, districts.
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Why Josh Stein’s 2026 Agenda is Hitting Roadblocks
Right now, the big talk is about recovery and money. Hurricane Helene left a massive scar on Western North Carolina in late 2024, and the recovery is dragging. Stein is currently pushing for an extra $13.5 billion in federal aid. He’s been vocal about the "delay in federal funding" being a disaster for folks in places like Swannanoa and Asheville.
But it isn't just about the weather.
There’s a massive budget fight happening. Believe it or not, North Carolina entered 2026 without a fully passed, comprehensive budget. That’s wild for a state this size. Stein wants a 6.5% raise for correctional officers because, frankly, the pay is abysmal—starting around $37,000. When you can make more money working at a warehouse than guarding a high-security prison, you get vacancies. Massive ones. We’re talking 50% vacancy rates in some facilities.
The legislature, though? They’re more interested in tax cuts.
The Council of State: A Divided House
Here is another thing most people get wrong: the Governor doesn't pick his "cabinet" in the way the President does.
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In North Carolina, we have something called the Council of State. These are ten elected officials who head major departments. The Lieutenant Governor, the Attorney General, the Commissioner of Agriculture—they are all elected independently. This means the governor in North Carolina could be a Democrat while his Lieutenant Governor is a Republican who disagrees with him on every single policy. It makes for very awkward meetings.
- Governor: Josh Stein (Democrat)
- Lt. Governor: Rachel Hunt (Democrat - Note: She won in 2024, breaking a streak of divided executive leadership)
- Agriculture: Steve Troxler (Republican - long-time incumbent)
Even with a more aligned executive team recently, Stein still has to share the stage. He’s the "Chief Executive," but he’s more like a chairman of a board where he didn't get to pick the other board members.
The "Bully Pulpit" and Cell Phones
Since he can't always win the legislative battles, Stein is leaning into the "bully pulpit"—using his public platform to change things without a law. Or, in some cases, signing things that have broad bipartisan support just to get a win.
One of the big changes for 2026? Cell-phone free classrooms.
Stein signed a bill that officially kicked in on January 1, 2026, making North Carolina one of over 30 states to restrict phones in schools. He’s been touring places like East Mecklenburg High School to talk about it. It’s a popular move. Parents love it. Teachers are relieved. It’s one of those rare moments where the governor in North Carolina can actually claim a win that everyone agrees on.
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The Drone Dilemma
There’s also this new push regarding "malicious drones." Following the Helene recovery, where drones were life-savers for finding people, there’s been a flip side. Stein is now co-chairing a group focused on national security because there's a real fear of weaponized drones hitting "critical infrastructure" like power plants or water systems.
He’s pushing for the "Safer Skies Act." Basically, he wants local cops to have the power to take down a drone if it's a "clear and present danger." Currently, the law is a mess—you can only go after the pilot, who might be five miles away in a basement. The drone itself is the threat, and Stein wants to be able to "neutralize" it.
Actionable Insights: How to Actually Influence the Governor
If you're a resident and you’re frustrated with how things are going, you need to understand where to aim your energy.
- Don't just email the Governor. Because of the weak veto and the three-fifths override, your local State Representative and State Senator often have more actual power over your daily life than the Governor does. If you want that correctional officer raise or more Helene funding, pressure the people who hold the purse strings in the General Assembly.
- Watch the Council of State. If you’re upset about school curriculum or insurance rates, look at the Superintendent of Public Instruction or the Insurance Commissioner. These are elected positions. They don't answer to the Governor; they answer to you at the ballot box.
- Public Comments Matter. Stein’s office frequently holds roundtables (like the recent one on childcare). These aren't just photo ops. They are often the only way the executive branch gets real data to use as leverage against the legislature.
- Follow the Budget. In North Carolina, the budget is the policy. Everything else is just talk. If a program isn't funded in the "mini-budgets" that have been passing lately, it doesn't exist.
The role of the governor in North Carolina is basically a masterclass in frustration and negotiation. It requires a person who can handle being told "no" by the legislature 50 times a day while still trying to find one small sliver of common ground. Whether you like Stein’s policies or not, the structure of the office ensures that no one person ever has too much control. In a state as divided as this one, maybe that’s exactly how the founders intended it.