NC Governor's Office / NC Commerce Dept.
U.S. state government, Democratic administration
Background
The North Carolina Governor's Office is one of the oldest executive offices in the country, established by the state's first constitution in 1776. The office was historically constrained—North Carolina was the last U.S. state to grant its governor veto power, doing so only in 1996. The NC Department of Commerce was created in 1971 under the State Government Reorganization Act, with a mission to promote economic development, attract business investment, and support workforce programs statewide. Both entities issue press releases and official statements as part of their public-information function, not as independent journalistic outlets. Gov. Josh Stein, a Democrat who previously served as North Carolina attorney general (2017–2025), took office in January 2025. Stein has navigated a sharply divided political environment: he faces a Republican-controlled state legislature that has passed laws limiting his executive appointment powers, prompting multiple lawsuits on separation-of-powers grounds. On federal relations, Stein has publicly criticized the Trump administration for slow disbursement of Hurricane Helene disaster-relief funds and sought billions more in federal aid, drawing a retort from a White House spokesperson; at the same time, he has worked cooperatively with federal agencies to secure over $1.4 billion in HUD recovery grants for western North Carolina and was appointed by Trump to co-chair the bipartisan Council of Governors.
Sources
- Josh Stein - Wikipedia
- Governor of North Carolina - Wikipedia
- North Carolina Department of Commerce - Wikipedia
- Governor | NCpedia
- Press Releases | NC Governor
- Trump Administration Approves Governor Stein's Housing Recovery Action Plan | NC Governor
- Stein chastises Trump administration, praises Republican majority Legislature | The Center Square
- Press Releases | NC Commerce
Profile compiled 2026-07-20; refreshed when ownership, funding, or the administration changes.