How the Pro-Polluter Majority Sought to Undermine the Results of the 2024 Election

If you can’t win, change the rules. This is the motto of anti-environmentalists who lost the gubernatorial race to Josh Stein. Since then, Republicans have abused their power in the General Assembly to strip power away from the executive branch.

Destroying the Power of the Governor

Taking power away from the Democratic governor and shifting it to the Republican-controlled House and Senate is not a new practice. In 2024, the legislature passed bills under the guise of appropriating Hurricane Helene relief funds that included a provision to shift state Board of Elections nominations from the governor to the state auditor as well as North Carolina Utilities Commission (NCUC) nominations to the state Treasurer. We are already seeing the effects of this power grab. 

Republican legislators did not stop there. This year, they passed HB 402 “Limit Rules With Substantial Financial Costs” ([H4] & [S2]) and tried to pass HB 870 “Sedimentation Act & Other Env.’l Changes” ([H10]), two bills that require unconstitutional approval of the legislature for many regulatory actions. HB 402 lets the majority Republican legislature control almost every action of state regulatory bodies. Under HB 402, nearly every project that would normally be under expert agency purview would have to be reviewed and approved by the legislature. Not only would this slow down an already tedious process of agency action, it would stop regulatory bodies from creating pro-environmental rules that the legislature dislikes, destroying the separation of powers. Gov. Stein vetoed this bill after it passed both the Senate and the House, citing his concerns about the health of his constituents and the slow pace at which regulations occur. The House and Senate voted to override the veto, with two Democratic house members voting against the governor.

HB 870 would specifically strip away power from NC DEQ by making nearly every decision made obligatorily reviewed by a federal body. The General Assembly would also be privy to nearly every agreement between the EPA and NC DEQ and have the ability to weigh in on important and urgent environmental matters. 

Both of these bills show complete and utter violation of the trust between agencies and the legislature, indicating that Republicans in the legislature are grabbing for power. This trend is not a surprise. Many bills this session have had similar goals, although not all have been successful. 

Attacking Voting Rights

HB 127 “Voter Registration Drive Form” poses a more terrifying challenge to our democracy that, yet again, allows the Republicans to dismantle any threat to their power. While this bill has not passed yet, it would forbid any voter registration drives from using the actual voter registration forms, adding extra steps for those who are merely trying to exercise their constitutional rights. Minorities are more likely to register to vote through voting drives and similar initiatives; this bill shows shocking disenfranchisement of these groups.

Other legislation attacking our voting rights introduced this year include: HB 237, HB 1071, and HB 1074. All of these bills are affronts to voters’ sensibilities as citizens. It is evident that Republican legislators place no value in the established system of checks and balances and are trying to wear down democracy in North Carolina by taking control of every aspect of the democratic process. 

Prioritizing Partisanship Over People

Over 100 days late on passing a state budget, state Republican lawmakers chose to prioritize partisan politics – at the cost of NC voters. Instead of providing necessary funding for our schools, state government, and communities, Republican lawmakers answered President Trump’s call to redraw voting maps to maintain control of the U.S. House of Representatives. “We are doing everything we can to protect President Trump’s agenda,” said Senate leader Phil Berger, “which means safeguarding Republican control of Congress.” 

A week later, NC lawmakers passed SB 249, changing Congressional districts for the fifth time in four years – a process meant to occur once every ten years according to NC’s constitution. Most notably, the law changed Congressional District 1, an historically Black district in northeastern NC. Since 1992 this area has elected Black representatives and Democratic candidates for over a century.

Once again, Republican lawmakers prioritize hoarding power over letting voters decide. These backward priorities ultimately hurt families and communities. These political schemes allow politicians to ignore kitchen table issues. Issues like rising electricity and medical bills, underfunded education, and rising unemployment. 

When power-hungry politicians diminish our vote, they diminish our power to create a healthy, equitable environment. Everything we do here at NCLCV depends on a representative democratic system. That’s why we dedicate so much effort advocating for our democracy.

Know the Score: See the Full Scorecard

To see how your legislators scored, and to learn more about the 2025 bills and votes, see the full 2024-2025 Scorecard.