4 for 4 on Supporting Gov. Josh Stein’s veto
The big story of the primary elections from an environmental perspective is the sweep of four key NC House primary elections by Democratic candidates who will support Gov. Josh Stein’s vetoes of bad legislation, including bad environmental legislation coming from that chamber’s pro-polluter leadership.
Those contests included three races in which Democratic incumbents who had voted to override multiple Stein vetoes were soundly defeated by their Democratic primary challengers. The fourth contest involved one rematch from two years ago, in which a former House member failed in his bid to regain a seat which he lost in 2024 precisely because of his tendency to override Gov. Roy Cooper’s vetoes.
In these Democratic primary contests, the North Carolina League of Conservation Voters (NCLCV) – through Conservation Votes PAC (CVP), its independent expenditure PAC – defeated three Democratic lawmakers who voted to raise energy bills and helped retain one seat for an environmental champion incumbent. With an investment of over half a million dollars, CVP made its largest investment ever in a primary election. CVP won every race it played in.
Lawmakers Voted to Raise Bills, Voters Voted Against Lawmakers
Each of the three defeated incumbents – Representatives Carla Cunningham (HD 106), Nasif Majeed (HD 99), and Shelley Willingham (HD 23) – voted to overturn Governor Josh Stein’s veto of Senate Bill 266, raising energy bills for hardworking North Carolinians, and rolling back an important climate target goal. These legislators were also the lowest scoring Democrats in NCLCV’s 2025 environmental scorecard.
“Voters had a clear message [in this primary]: prioritize hardworking families and lower energy bills,” said Dan Crawford, NCLCV Senior Director of Public Affairs. “Representatives Cunningham, Majeed, and Willingham voted to raise energy bills and push pause on climate action. Turns out voters don’t like that. Voters want clean, affordable energy – not greedy, dirty Duke Energy. It is time lawmakers quit the political games and start delivering for hardworking North Carolinians. May these results stand as a reminder to lawmakers this short session: voters see how you vote, and they will hold you accountable. NCLCV will make sure of it.”
Defending An Environmental Champion
Additionally, the CVP helped Representative Rodney Pierce (HD 27) maintain his seat and defeat sore loser Michael Wray. CVP also had been instrumental in Pierce’s first victory, as well as securing his seat after Wray contested the election without evidence.
“Voters are quite pleased with Representative Pierce’s leadership,” said Crawford. “He received a perfect score on NCLCV’s 2025 environmental scorecard. We congratulate him on his decisive victory, and look forward to working with him to deliver environmental wins for his constituents and for folks across our state.”
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Environmental Champion and Former NC Gov. Roy Cooper Easily Wins Primary
Former Governor Roy Cooper, a career environmental champion, handily bested multiple opponents to win the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate. The League of Conservation Voters (LCV) Action Fund formally endorsed Roy Cooper early in that contest, in September 2025.
“North Carolinians know firsthand the devastating impact of extreme weather and pollution on families, and Roy Cooper will fight to protect North Carolinians in the Senate as he did as governor,” said LCV Senior Vice President of Government Affairs Tiernan Sittenfeld. “People across the country are facing rising energy costs and continued threats to our environment and our fundamental rights – it’s more important than ever to have champions like Roy Cooper in the Senate who will help ensure we all can have a more healthy and just future.”
“We appreciate Roy Cooper’s strong leadership during and after the devastating disaster of Hurricane Helene. We need someone in Washington who understands the increasing threat that extreme weather poses to lives and livelihoods across our state,” said North Carolina LCV Executive Director Carrie Clark. “At the same time, he led the creation of North Carolina’s thriving clean energy economy and made us the top state in the country in rural clean energy jobs. These are just a few of the many reasons Roy Cooper is the leader North Carolina needs in the U.S. Senate.”
Republican Primary Voters Send Data Center Supporter Packing
In politically bright red Stokes County, the Republican primary is usually the decider for local offices. Therefore, it’s especially noteworthy that Stokes citizens choosing the Republican primary ballot this election decisively defeated an incumbent Stokes County Commissioner who voted to rezone land in order to allow the location of a massive new data center there.
More than 350 constituents opposing the data center showed up at the January 12 Stokes County Commission meeting and hearing at which the commissioners voted 3-2 to approve two rezonings necessary as a first step toward building the data center. Commissioner Rick Morris was one of the three commissioners voting for the rezonings. Unfortunately for him, he was also one of the two incumbent commissioners who had to run to defend their seats this year. On March 3, Morris came in eighth out of eight candidates vying for three spots on the fall ballot.
The small community of Walnut Cove, which will be most directly impacted if the data center is built, came out in force for the hearing – and apparently came out to vote as well. Countywide, the anti-incumbent sentiment was so intense that no incumbent county commissioner on the ballot was re-elected.
For citizens who want insight into how and why to oppose new data centers in their community, see this report from the Southern Environmental Law Center.
