Is North Carolina ready for a political regime change?

A case can be made that fifteen years of Republican dominance in state government is enough and a regime change is desirable.

For the record, we felt the same way after Democrats ran the state for over 100 years. Republicans have done some good things, chief among them is putting our state on a sounder financial footing and amassing cash for the inevitable rainy day. But the damage now outweighs the benefits.

The GOP mantra has been cut, cut, cut. In 2011, when Republicans took charge, the personal income tax rate was 7.75% for incomes over $60,000. Today it is 3.99% and Republicans want to cut even more. If current legislative leadership gets their way corporate income taxes will disappear altogether. Let’s acknowledge tax cuts were justified and helped stimulate our economy. But we’ve cut enough and at some point need to question who is going pay for state government services? Is this primarily a ploy by leadership to cut budgets and state services?

For more than a decade they prohibited North Carolina from expanding Medicaid, keeping more than a half million elderly and low-income citizens from having health insurance. Republicans have resegregated our state’s public schools, transferring funds from traditional public schools to charters and now gifting $675 million per year to private schools filled with predominantly white, middle to upper income students - schools where we have no idea how well students perform. It is apparent Republicans have essentially given up on traditional public schools.

Republicans politicized the governance of our state university system and community colleges, and now aim to do the same to the State Board of Education. Meanwhile, they exempted themselves from open meetings laws and accountability. They have studiously and regularly reduced environmental regulations and passed rules favoring big business. Lawmakers ended the Earned Income Tax Credit that helped provide childcare for low-income workers. They cut unemployment insurance benefits, making us among the least generous states in the country.

During their reign, Republicans made judicial elections partisan by forcing candidates to declare their political affiliation. Our legislature’s partisan gerrymandering is among the most extreme in the nation and they changed election laws to be more favorable to their party’s candidates

The current power structure deliberately changed the balance of power by weakening the authority and appointment powers of our governor. They used political trickery to overturn gubernatorial vetoes. The numbers of women and minorities on boards and commissions have shrunk and one only needs to speak the words “HB2” to remind you what Republican think of those with gender differences. Further, they drastically modified our abortion laws.

The case is substantial that it is time for a political change in our state, but it won’t take place overnight. Let us remind ourselves that 30.25% of our registered voters are Republicans, 30.21% are Democrats and 39% are Unaffiliated – voters who deliberately chose not to join either tribe. The climate appears right for Democrats and Unaffiliated voters to find some common ground and form a new coalition, perhaps not only every issue, but on enough issues to take charge of state government.

What can be done in 2026?

The March primary elections have locked in place the candidates for November’s elections, however a significant step toward regime change would be to eliminate the current veto-proof majorities in both houses of our legislature. This would not only promote more incentive for cooperation and compromise by the current leadership, but also would make the governor a player in legislation to prevent vetoes.

Political consultants can easily identify districts where an incumbent might be weak, where registration numbers indicate a newcomer might have a chance for an upset or where there is significant voter unrest over issues. The March election between longtime Senator Phil Berger and Sheriff Sam Page proved such changes can happen.

A three-fifths majority of those present and voting is needed to override a gubernatorial veto. In the House that is 72 votes, if all members are present. Currently the House has 70 Republicans, 47 Democrats and 2 not affiliated. In the NC Senate, 30 votes are necessary to override a veto. Currently, there are 30 Republican and 20 Democrats.

A few “flips” in party representation could assure one or both chambers are veto proof.

Using the Republican playbook, Independent Expenditure Groups would form to raise the large sums of money needed to inform the public. Carefully crafted advertising could stir up voters and motivate them to cast ballots in November.

Removing veto overrides could be a good test to see if North Carolina is ready for change. If they are, there is ample time to prepare for the 2028 presidential election.

Tom Campbell is a Hall of Fame North Carolina broadcaster and columnist who has covered North Carolina public policy issues since 1965.  Contact him at tomcamp@ncspin.com