BREAKING: North Carolina Republicans Overturn the Will of the Voters in Desperate Ploy to Cling to Power After Democratic Sweep in 2024 Elections Arrow

In response to North Carolina Republican lawmakers' overriding Governor Cooper's veto to stop them from stripping powers away from the incoming Democratic governor and attorney general, DNC Chair Jaime Harrison released the following statement:

"The North Carolina Republican Party is desperately trying to cling to power after North Carolinians soundly rejected state Republicans at the ballot box this November. Rather than respect the will of voters, state Republicans have put up bogus legislation that cloaks their attempt to overturn democracy and undermines essential hurricane relief. This is wrong, un-American, and unfortunately emblematic of the Republican Party - desperate attempts to consolidate power at all costs instead of trying to better North Carolinians' lives. As North Carolina families struggle to recover from the impacts of Hurricane Helene, state Republicans have shown they will not hesitate to weaponize their constituents' hardships for their own self-serving pursuit of power and retribution. North Carolinians deserve better."

North Carolina Democratic Party Chair Anderson Clayton released the following statement:

"The wake of Hurricane Helene brought out the best in our state. Across Western North Carolina, neighbors helped each other access resources, less impacted communities sent aid by the truckload to harder-hit areas - our state truly came together to help.

"As the wait for meaningful congressional action continues to stall, now was the time that Western North Carolina needed their legislature to deliver for them the most.

"Unfortunately, western North Carolina had to watch as every Republican in the General Assembly shamelessly put their desire to strip political power away from recently elected Democrats ahead of the aid and relief their communities need. Using the guise of Hurricane Helene relief is a new low, even for General Assembly Republicans."

NEW: Facing losses to their veto-proof supermajority, North Carolina Republicans loaded measures to boost their political power and diminish incoming Democrats' authority in a bill meant to provide hurricane relief funding to North Carolinians.

NBC News: "North Carolina GOP lawmakers vote to strip incoming Democratic leaders' powers"

"North Carolina Republican lawmakers voted to strip the state's incoming Democratic governor and attorney general of key powers, passing a sweeping bill before the GOP most likely loses its veto-proof supermajority in the Legislature next year.

"The legislation would grant the authority to appoint members to the state's election board, which oversees the voting process in North Carolina, to the state auditor, an office that will be held by Republican Dave Boliek after he defeated incumbent Democrat Jessica Holmes in the Nov. 5 election.

"The legislation would also shorten the time for voters to fix ballot errors and require counties to count ballots more rapidly.

"The legislation also proposes prohibiting the attorney general, an office Democrats also kept control of in this month's election, from taking legal positions contrary to those of the Legislature.

"The new bill would also strip the governor of some of his power in filling judicial vacancies and creating new Superior Court positions nominated by legislative leaders."