NC Gov. Josh Stein is not on the ballot, but primary results will impact his job
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- March 3 results could shift power dynamics involving Stein, Berger and Hall.
- Berger’s primary result could shift Senate GOP power dynamics.
- Stein endorsed primary candidates that could affect House alignments.
Good morning and welcome to our Under the Dome newsletter focused on the governor. I’m Capitol bureau chief Dawn Vaughan.
Democratic Gov. Josh Stein isn’t on the ballot, but the results of Tuesday’s election will impact his job.
The three most powerful politicians in the state are Stein, Senate leader Phil Berger and House Speaker Destin Hall. Berger is the only one on primary ballots on Tuesday — in Senate District 26 in Rockingham and Guilford counties.
Hall and Berger are Republicans and control the legislature, and Stein either signs or tries to block their attempts to change state law. Sometimes they are at odds; other times they work together on things like economic development and bringing industry to the state.
Berger is battling in a contentious primary with Rockingham County Sheriff Sam Page. If Berger loses, he told me he’ll still finish his term this year, so he would remain president pro tempore of the Senate.
But the balance of power among Republicans in the General Assembly would shift if Berger loses. Lawmakers would know that his time as Senate leader is drawing to a close. House Speaker Destin Hall would have added leverage. There’s still the 2025 budget fight that’s now the 2026 budget fight.
If other incumbents lose their primaries, that will shift power dynamics as well. The legislative short session, which starts April 21, is always held in an election year, and bills reflect campaign priorities.
Berger said this primary campaign has validated what he’s done over the years at the legislature.
You can read more about what voters are saying in his district, as well as what Berger and Page say:
- As voters decide their political futures, what Berger and Page say about heated race
- For NC, it’s Senate leader vs. sheriff. But in Rockingham, it’s just Phil vs. Sam
There are several incumbents in the General Assembly fighting to be their party’s nominee — and Stein has gotten involved with two of them, endorsing a challenger to Democratic Rep. Carla Cunningham and endorsing Rep. Rodney Pierce, who is being challenged in a primary by former Democratic Rep. Michael Wray. Wray was an occasional swing vote for Republicans, so if he defeats Pierce and wins the general election, that could give Republicans in the House more power in 2027, assuming Wray agrees with them on certain issues.
And all of that plays into whether Stein’s vetoes are succesful or can be overturned.
Thanks for reading.
Be sure to listen to our Under the Dome podcast, with new episodes on Tuesdays. This past week I talked with Republican State Auditor Dave Boliek.
Our new episode coming out on Tuesday is a primary day preview with my politics team colleagues Kyle Ingram and Danielle Battaglia.
Contact me at dvaughan@newsobserver.com or the entire politics team at dome@newsobserver.com.
