Republicans push bill to curb Stein's Council of State appointment powers

Under House Bill 443, North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein would be prohibited from filling GOP vacancies on the Council of State with a Democrat.

North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein walks past House Speaker Destin Hall after signing a bill on March 19, 2025.

North Carolina Republicans on Tuesday are poised to give initial consideration of a bill that stands to reduce one of the governor’s most important functions: filling statewide vacancies.

Under House Bill 443, Democratic Gov. Josh Stein would be prohibited from filling GOP vacancies on the Council of State with a Democrat. This restriction on appointments would apply to eight of the 10 statewide offices— Secretary of State, Auditor, Treasurer, Superintendent of Public Instruction, Attorney General, Commissioner of Agriculture, Commissioner of Labor and Commissioner of Insurance.