NC Capitol Wrap · WRAL News | Raleigh, North Carolina

A week of veto overrides, lawsuits and division over war in Israel

·25 min·2 clips

Laura Leslie and Travis Fain kick off a week with 19 veto overrides, a new record in North Carolina politics.

This episode of NC Capitol Wrap covers a week of legislative action and legal challenges in North Carolina state government. Hosts Laura Leslie, WRAL's Capital Bureau Chief, and state government reporter Travis Fain provide the analysis. Fain notes he is recovering from a sinus infection at the start of the recording. The Republican-led legislature overrode five of Governor Roy Cooper's vetoes in a single session. This brings the total number of overrides for the calendar year to a record 19. The hosts indicate the legislature is positioned to break the record for a full biennial session in the next session. One major bill overridden was Senate Bill 747, an elections law. This legislation loosens rules for partisan poll observers, allowing them to get closer to voters and take photographs. It also eliminates the three-day grace period for mail-in ballots to be received after Election Day. The bill changes the deadline so mail-in ballots must arrive at county boards by 7:30 PM on election night to be counted. Military ballots are exempted from this new deadline. The legislation also modifies same-day registration procedures, reducing the confirmation process to a single postcard. Lawsuits were filed almost immediately after the bill became law. The Democratic National Committee and the North Carolina Democratic Party filed one legal challenge. A separate lawsuit was filed by the group Down Home North Carolina, with attorney Marc Elias representing them. The legal arguments challenge various provisions within the election law changes. The hosts reference that the original three-day grace period for ballots had passed unanimously in the legislature around 2009 or 2011. This historical context highlights the significant policy reversal. The episode presents the veto overrides as a continuation of heightened partisan conflict in the state. The rapid legal response underscores the immediate high-stakes political battle over election rules. The record number of overrides frames the governor's veto power as increasingly symbolic. The tone is conversational and explanatory, fitting two reporters dissecting the week's news. The style is direct and fact-focused, relying on the hosts' institutional knowledge of state government processes. This episode is ideal for North Carolina voters or political observers seeking a concise breakdown of major state government actions. Listeners looking for national political analysis or cultural commentary would likely find it less relevant.

Listen to the show on

Apple Podcasts Spotify

Play clips from this episode More from NC Capitol Wrap