NC Republicans return to Raleigh next week before losing power. Here’s what they’ll try to do

Key Points:

• In the 2026 midterms, North Carolina voters unseated two dozen Republican state lawmakers, ending the GOP’s veto-proof supermajority in the state Senate and returning control of the state House to Democrats for the first time in over a decade.
• Despite the upcoming power shift in January, Republicans still hold large majorities and will convene for a final legislative session in November to fill numerous state government vacancies and address budget matters before Democrats assume control.
• Key priorities for the GOP-led session include appointing members to various state commissions, considering additional funding for Hurricane Helene relief and state agencies, and making technical corrections to the recently passed state budget.
• Democratic incoming House Speaker Robert Reives has expressed a desire for bipartisan cooperation in 2027, but uncertainty surrounds Senate leadership as longtime GOP leader Phil Berger lost his primary and his potential successor was also unseated.
• The effectiveness of Republican efforts in the final session may hinge on attendance and unanimous support within their ranks, especially since Governor Josh Stein is expected to veto bills that threaten executive power and the GOP’s slim Senate supermajority could be vulnerable.