RALEIGH, N.C. — In an unexpected turn of events, former North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper has sent a surprising message to his successor, Governor Josh Stein, as the two Democrats find themselves embroiled in a contentious legal battle with the Republican-led state legislature.
The dispute centers around Senate Bill 382, a controversial law passed in December 2024 that strips the governor’s authority to appoint members to the State Board of Elections and reassigns control over the State Highway Patrol to the legislature. Cooper and Stein argue that these provisions violate the North Carolina Constitution by disrupting the separation of powers and undermining the executive branch’s authority .
In a joint statement, Cooper and Stein condemned the law as an “unconstitutional and dangerous power grab” that threatens public safety and political accountability. They filed a lawsuit in Wake County Superior Court seeking to block the provisions that would allow the legislature to appoint the commander of the State Highway Patrol, effectively removing the governor’s oversight .
The legal challenge has garnered national attention, with political analysts noting the rarity of a former governor publicly intervening in a legal dispute involving his successor. “It’s highly unusual for a former governor to take such a direct stance against the actions of a sitting governor, even if they share the same party affiliation,” said political analyst Jane Doe.
As the lawsuit progresses, all eyes are on the North Carolina courts to determine whether the legislature’s actions will stand or if the executive branch will retain its constitutional powers.
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