North Carolina Office of the Governor
U.S. state government (Democratic administration)
Background
The office of governor is North Carolina's oldest public executive position, established by the state's first constitution in 1776; initially chosen annually by the legislature, the role evolved over subsequent constitutions into a directly elected, term-limited post. The governor serves as ex officio director of the state budget and as the state's chief executive under the NC Constitution. The Office of the Governor maintains regional outreach offices in New Bern (eastern NC) and Asheville (western NC), as well as a Washington, D.C., liaison office. Roy Cooper, a Democrat, held the office from 2017 to 2025 and frequently clashed with the Republican-controlled General Assembly. Josh Stein, also a Democrat and former two-term state attorney general, was elected in November 2024 with roughly 53 percent of the vote and sworn in on January 1, 2025. Stein has described his approach as pragmatic, working with Republicans in the legislature on budget and recovery issues while publicly objecting to Trump administration policies he views as harmful to the state. The office's press releases and newsroom function as an official government communications channel rather than an editorially independent outlet, and all content reflects the political priorities of the sitting governor.
Sources
- Press Releases | NC Governor
- Josh Stein – Wikipedia
- Governor | NCpedia
- A Democratic governor, a Republican legislature: How Josh Stein navigates North Carolina politics | WUNC News
- New North Carolina Governor Josh Stein sworn in | WUNC News
Profile compiled 2026-08-26; refreshed when ownership, funding, or the administration changes.