In 2026, we’re pursuing power thresholds in both North Carolina chambers. In the State Senate, we’re working to break the rightwing supermajority. In the State House, we’re working to expand the number of seats that are preventing a rightwing supermajority. The results of the state’s most recent legislative sessions prove why this fight matters.
In 2024, we broke the rightwing supermajority in the House — a shift in power that was decided by just 114 votes! That win gave Governor Stein the power to veto the most harmful rightwing policies that reached his desk. Since then, his veto pen has prevented several dangerous policies from becoming law — including one that would have removed background checks and permit requirements for those who want to carry a concealed gun in public places.
But Governor Stein’s current ability to protect North Carolinians has limits. In the 2025 legislative session, some lawmakers from the House minority joined the rightwing to override Governor Stein’s veto 8 times. As a result, policies that make it easier for companies to pollute air and water, allow guns in schools, and more, became law.
The lawmakers that broke with the House minority lost their primary races in March to state lawmakers committed to keeping North Carolinians safe and healthy — a key step toward our ultimate goal of protecting the governor’s veto power. But we can’t stop there.
Winning more seats in the House and the Senate this November will create a stronger buffer against extreme rightwing policy.
Right now, the rightwing holds majorities in both North Carolina chambers — but that power is thinner than it looks. In the House, Governor Stein’s veto power is protected by a single seat. If even one lawmaker fails to sustain a veto or misses a vote, his veto can be overridden, and harmful policies can be enacted into law.
Flipping just one Senate seat would end the rightwing’s supermajority, and winning at least one additional seat in the House would put the Governor’s veto on much firmer ground.
In 2026, we must build the power state lawmakers need to ensure Governor Stein can continue to protect the health, safety, and freedom of millions of North Carolinians.
We helped to break the supermajority in the House to reinstate Governor Josh Stein’s veto power. If 114 votes in the tipping-point district had changed, the supermajority would not have been broken.
We needed to prevent a supermajority in the State House to protect the governor’s veto power. We were able to hold off a supermajority in the North Carolina House by one seat until Rep. Tricia Cotham, who won a safe Democratic seat, went back on her promises to her voters and joined the rightwing majority.
Our work helped win two new seats in the House and one in the Senate — preventing rightwing supermajorities in both chambers.
In TSP’s first election in North Carolina, we helped gain nine seats in the House, to break the rightwing supermajority in the chamber and protect Governor Roy Cooper’s veto power.
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State lawmakers have the power to enact policies that can protect millions of Americans, and the overall direction of the country, from the worst impacts of a second Trump presidency.
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