North Carolina was a ‘bright spot’ for Democrats, governor-elect says
After winning in a state favorable to Republican Donald Trump, Democratic Gov.-elect Josh Stein said his service as North Carolina’s attorney general gave voters confidence and called the Tar Heel state ” bright spot” for Democrats on election night.
Stein told Jonathan Karl, co-anchor of ABC’s “This Week,” that Kamala Harris ran a “strong campaign” but was hampered by a condensed schedule and a “difficult national mood.”
“It was an unhappy night for Democrats across the country, but North Carolina was a bright spot,” Stein said. “And we’re proud of what we’ve accomplished here.”
Fresh off his gubernatorial victory, Stein pointed out that Democrats had won elections for North Carolina’s secretary of state and attorney general. As North Carolina’s current attorney general, he defeated Republican Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, whose campaign was plagued by allegations of racist, homophobic and anti-Semitic comments in the past.
Stein outperformed Harris in North Carolina, winning 55% of the vote to Harris’ 48%. In the House, Democrats won enough seats to fend off a Republican supermajority. Stein strongly indignant his opponent and used social media to highlight Robinson’s inflammatory comments.
While Democrats have won eight of the last nine gubernatorial elections in the Tar Heel State, Barack Obama was the last Democrat to win North Carolina in 2008.
When asked to explain his victory in the swing state, Stein said his campaign was about “fighting for every person.”
“Voters had a very clear choice,” Stein said. “Our vision was positive and forward-looking.”
He emphasized a focus on public safety, education and personal freedoms, including voting and reproductive rights. Stein also said his position as attorney general gives him some familiarity with voters.
“I think the fact that I have a proven track record as the attorney general for the people of North Carolina helped give them confidence knowing that I wasn’t just saying words, but that I would work hard every day to achieve this,’” Stein says.
Stein promised to govern in a bipartisan manner. In his victory speechhe spoke of the importance of working across the aisle since “no person or party has a monopoly on good ideas.”
He spoke about recovery efforts following Hurricane Helene in North Carolina and his recent visit in Washington to advocate for relief funding alongside Republican lawmakers. Stein said he “looks forward” to working with the Trump administration to provide relief.
Pressed on his biggest fear in a second Trump term, Stein pointed to the choice of hard-line President-elect Kash Patel to lead the FBI. Patel is one of Trump’s staunchest defenders and has said he would turn the FBI into a museum of the “deep state.”
“I want someone who respects the rule of law,” Stein said. “And [Patel’s] my appointment to the FBI does not give me the assurance that this is a top priority”,
Asked about Trump’s promise of mass deportations, Stein said it was “not a priority” to deport law-abiding citizens.
“They are instrumental in our communities, they are instrumental in our economy,” he said.
