NC’s next governor: What to know about Josh Stein’s inauguration in January
Welcome to the governor-elect edition of our Under the Dome politics newsletter. I’m Dawn Vaughan, The News & Observer’s Capitol bureau chief.
When Josh Stein takes office in January, he will have less power than his predecessor, outgoing Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper, due to the latest move by the Republican supermajority in the General Assembly.
After Republicans successfully overturned Cooper’s veto of Senate Bill 382 on Wednesday with a final override vote in the House, Stein called the move a “power grab.” You can read our coverage of the override, and the lawsuit that Stein and Cooper already filed about the State Highway Patrol aspect of the law.
Cooper has two weeks left in his term, and has been making a series of speeches about his major issues during his two terms, including education, energy and economic policy.
As for Stein, we now have details about his inauguration. Stein is likely to be sworn in at midnight on New Year’s Eve, but the official inauguration comes about 10 days later, along with a public ceremony.
Here’s what to know about it.
Inauguration of Gov. Josh Stein in January
The inauguration, with its ceremonial swearings-in for Stein and the other nine members of the Council of State who were elected in November, will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 11.
After he’s sworn in, Stein will give his inaugural address, which sets the stage for his administration’s priorities. His theme will be “North Carolina Strong,” which his transition team says will represent the state’s “unity and resilience as people come together to support their western North Carolina neighbors recover and rebuild from Hurricane Helene.”
It will be held on the Capitol grounds in downtown Raleigh, as is customary.
Right after the ceremony, there will be a block party on Fayetteville Street with musical performances, food trucks, small-business vendors and community organizations. That starts at 11 a.m.
PBS North Carolina will air the inauguration live.
There will also be an open house at the Executive Mansion, 200 N. Blount St., from noon to 2:30 p.m. the next day, Jan. 12.
The Junior League of Raleigh is hosting the Inaugural Ball the night of Jan. 11, which I wrote about last week.
You can read more about inauguration weekend at ncinauguration.org.
Stein’s Inaugural Committee is chaired by N.C. Department of Administration Secretary Pamela Brewington Cashwell.
Committee members are Wake County Democratic Rep. Cynthia Ball, Harnett County Republican Sen. Jim Burgin, Mecklenburg County Democratic Rep. Becky Carney, Forsyth County Democratic Sen. Paul Lowe, Guilford County Democratic Rep. Amos Quick, Guilford County Democratic Sen. Gladys Robinson, former state Sen. Joe Sam Queen, Malcomb D. Coley Sr. of the UNC-Wilmington Board of Trustees, Jennie Jarrell Hayman of the Junior League of Raleigh and Stephen Britt Hill of Mother Earth Brewing.
Stay informed about #ncpol
Listen to our Under the Dome podcast to stay up to date. On our new episode posting Monday, I’m joined by a guest reporter from Enlace Latino NC, Claudia Rivera Cotto. We talk about the veto override as well as the impact on North Carolina of House Bill 10 and what the incoming Trump administration means for immigration.
You can sign up to receive the Under the Dome newsletter at newsobserver.com/newsletters. Want your friends to get our email, too? Forward them this newsletter so they can sign up. You can also email me questions you may have about incoming Gov.-elect Josh Stein at dvaughan@newsobserver.com.
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