(The Center Square) – Ahead of Wednesday’s convening of the North Carolina General Assembly, certificates of elections wins were yielded Monday for Democrats Bryan Cohn, Terence Everitt and Woodson Bradley.
The only remaining race from Nov. 5 without a certificate is the race for a state Supreme Court seat between Democratic incumbent Allison Riggs and Republican challenger Jefferson Griffin.
Protests of Rep. Frank Sossamon, Ashlee Adams and Stacie McGinn – all Republicans – were dismissed by the State Board of Elections last month.
Cohn defeated Sossamon by 228 votes of 42,202 cast for House District 32 seat; Everitt defeated Adams by 128 votes of 119,206 cast for Senate District 18; and Bradley defeated McGinn by 209 votes of 124,311 cast for Senate District 42.
With Monday’s certificates of election done, the General Assembly majorities are confirmed for Republicans at 30-20 in the Senate and 71-49 in the House of Representatives. Much attention is given to the size of the majorities because state law to override a veto of the governor is both chambers approval by three-fifths of those voting, or 30 in the Senate and 72 in the House.
That said, full chamber votes are rare and during the eight years of Gov. Roy Cooper just concluded, at least Democrat in either chamber voting for override happened more than it did not
Of the record 104 vetoes from Cooper, 52 still became law through the General Assembly’s override. All 29 vetoes handed down over the last two years still became law.
At least one Democrat voted to override on 11 of 23 vetoes in the 2017-18 session; both vetoes of the 2018 first extra session; and 18 of 29 vetoes in the 2023-24 session.
Both chambers had at least one Democrat against his veto five times in 2017-18 and three times in 2023-24.
The 71-49 majority in the House is the same as after the 2022 midterms. The following April, Rep. Tricia Cotham said her party had left her and she switched from Democrat registration to Republican. She won reelection Nov. 5.
Each chamber will begin session on Wednesday at noon. The day is more celebration than substance, with family joining members on the floor as oaths – and pictures – are taken.
