North Carolina Legislature Remains in Republican Hands, Divided Government to Continue
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According to local media reports, North Carolina Democrats were unable to secure control of both chambers of the state’s General Assembly, dashing their hopes of attaining complete authority over the state government.
The results of several federal races were still undetermined on Wednesday morning, with the presidential vote in the state too close to call and incumbent Senator Thom Tillis maintaining a slight lead over Democratic challenger Cal Cunningham. However, Democratic Governor Roy Cooper secured re-election without much uncertainty, as his lead against Republican opponent Dan Forest had appeared strong for weeks.
Governor Cooper’s education agenda faced significant resistance from the GOP in the General Assembly over the past four years, with the two parties constantly clashing over the proposed increase in teacher salaries. In his second term, Democrats aimed to make progress on priorities such as expanding childcare and early college programs, which would have required a greater presence in the legislature.
According to the News & Observer newspaper in Raleigh, Democrats fell short of their goals. They were only able to secure one out of the five seats necessary to gain control of the chamber and actually lost four seats in the state House of Representatives. Nonetheless, Republicans still do not have a majority that would allow them to override any vetoes from either body, which means that contentious negotiations between the executive and legislative branches will continue in January. These negotiations will cover various issues ranging from teacher salaries to school reopenings to the uncertain state budget.
Discover the essential education-related election races in 2020 that have the potential to reshape America’s schools. Stay up to date with the latest updates on state policies and the challenges faced by students during the pandemic by subscribing to Newsletter.
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