If you’ve been following the news lately, you probably know that North Carolina hit a major milestone on New Year’s Day. Josh Stein was sworn in as the 76th governor of North Carolina 2025, marking a massive shift in the state's political landscape. He’s the first Jewish person to hold the office, which is a pretty big deal historically. But honestly, the pomp and circumstance of the inauguration was the easy part.
What's actually happening behind the scenes in Raleigh is a lot more complicated—and way more interesting—than the headlines suggest. People tend to think the governor has total control, but in North Carolina, it’s a constant tug-of-war. Stein stepped into the role during a period of massive transition, dealing with the aftermath of Hurricane Helene and a legislature that isn't exactly rolling out the red carpet for his agenda.
The Reality of Power in Raleigh
Most people assume that once a governor is elected, they just start passing laws. Nope. Not here. Josh Stein is a Democrat, but he’s facing a General Assembly where Republicans still hold a lot of the cards.
One of the most critical things to understand about the governor of North Carolina 2025 is the "supermajority" factor. In the 2024 elections, Republicans kept their supermajority in the State Senate (30 out of 50 seats). However, they lost it in the House by just one seat.
This one-seat shift changed everything. It means that for Stein to have a real seat at the table, he only needs to keep his own party unified to make his vetoes stick. In the past, the legislature could basically ignore the governor if they wanted to. Now? They actually have to talk to him. Or at least, they’re supposed to.
The Budget Deadlock Nobody Saw Coming
By late 2025, North Carolina became the only state in the entire country without a new budget. Think about that for a second. It’s kinda wild.
Stein proposed a pretty ambitious budget back in March 2025. He wanted big raises for teachers—aiming to make starting pay the highest in the Southeast—and significant investments in childcare. But the House and Senate Republicans couldn't even agree with each other, let alone with the governor.
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The main sticking point? Tax cuts.
- The Senate: Wants to push forward with scheduled income tax cuts no matter what.
- The House: Getting nervous about a potential deficit and wants to slow things down.
- The Governor: Wants to freeze those tax cuts for corporations and the wealthy to pay for schools and mental health.
Because of this three-way standoff, the state has been running on a "base budget," which basically means everything stays at old spending levels. It’s frustrating for state employees who were counting on those raises.
Hurricane Helene: The Governor’s Biggest Test
You can't talk about the governor of North Carolina 2025 without talking about Western North Carolina. Hurricane Helene absolutely devastated the mountains in late 2024, and the recovery has dominated Stein’s first year.
On his very first full day in office—January 2, 2025—Stein didn't stay in Raleigh for a victory lap. He went straight to Asheville. He’s been pushing for billions in recovery funds to rebuild roads, septic systems, and homes.
It’s not just about the money, though. It’s about the bureaucracy. Stein has been using executive orders to cut through the red tape, but he’s also had to rely on nonprofits. He recently announced $9 million in grants for groups like Habitat for Humanity and Baptists on Mission because, as he put it, when the government slows down, these folks "surge ahead."
Who’s Actually Running the Show? (The Cabinet)
While the politicians argue, the day-to-day work of the state is done by the Cabinet. Stein didn’t just clear house when he took over; he kept a few key people from the Cooper administration to keep things stable.
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Here is a look at some of the heavy hitters Stein put in charge:
The Infrastructure Team
Joey Hopkins stayed on as the Secretary of Transportation. This was a smart move because you don't want a rookie in charge of rebuilding the Blue Ridge Parkway and hundreds of bridges destroyed by the storm. He also brought in Gabe Esparza for Administration—Esparza has a background in the SBA, which helps with the business side of things.
Health and Safety
Dr. Dev Sangvai took over Health and Human Services (DHHS). He’s a Duke doctor who has to navigate the "Medicaid cliff" that’s been looming over the state. On the safety side, Eddie Buffaloe Jr. stayed at Public Safety, providing some much-needed continuity for law enforcement.
The Tech Guru
Teena Piccione at the Department of Information Technology (DIT) is an interesting one. She came from Google and AT&T. Stein’s goal here is basically to make the DMV less of a nightmare by moving more services online. It’s working, too—license renewals online have spiked since they launched the new system.
The 2026 Factor
Everything the governor of North Carolina 2025 does is being viewed through the lens of the 2026 midterms. Since North Carolina is a purple state, the national parties are obsessed with what happens here.
If Stein can't get a budget passed, his opponents will call it a failure of leadership. If he does get it passed but it requires compromising on tax cuts, he might catch flak from his own base. It’s a tightrope walk.
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What You Should Actually Do Now
If you live in North Carolina or just care about how the state is being run, don't just read the headlines. The real "action" is in the details of the budget and the specific appointments being made to boards and commissions.
Keep an eye on the "Short Session" in April 2026.
That is the next real deadline for a budget deal. If they don't have it figured out by then, the Medicaid funding shortfall could start affecting real people in a big way.
Watch the DMV updates. If you need to renew your license, check the online portal first. Stein is pushing hard to reduce those 3-hour wait times, and new examiners are finally hitting the floor.
Check the Hurricane Recovery grants. If you’re in a disaster zone, the state is increasingly funneling money through nonprofits rather than direct state checks. Look up the VOAD (Volunteer Organizations Active in Disasters) list for faster help.
The first year of any governor is a learning curve, but for the governor of North Carolina 2025, there was no "grace period." Between the storms and the political stalemate, it’s been a trial by fire. Whether you like his policies or not, the way Stein handles the current budget impasse will likely define the rest of his term.