Josh Stein’s victory in this year’s North Carolina governor’s race was significant, especially considering his opponent was widely regarded as one of the weakest Republican candidates in a major race this cycle. However, Stein believes Democrats can still learn valuable lessons from his success.
Despite running against an insurgent MAGA figure, Stein, a prosecutor with 20 years of political experience and deep ties to the incumbent Democratic governor, secured the largest margin of victory in any battleground state this year. His opponent, Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, faced a series of scandals that further weakened his campaign.
Stein’s strategy focused on promoting law enforcement, economic growth, and framing abortion as an issue of respecting women’s rights. In the end, Stein defeated Robinson by 15 points—a margin significantly higher than Kamala Harris, who trailed Trump by 3 points in the state after campaigning hard there. Just months earlier, national Republicans had poured millions into the race, assuming it would be competitive due to the state’s conservative leanings and concerns over Stein’s stances on crime and immigration.
Stein’s victory went beyond his own race, however. His coattails helped Democrats secure every statewide office, including lieutenant governor, attorney general, and school superintendent. Democrats also broke the GOP supermajority in the statehouse and won the only competitive House seat in the South. Even as Republicans continue their efforts to contest 60,000 votes in a tight state Supreme Court race, Stein’s 171,000-vote lead over Trump marks a historic achievement for the state.
As he prepares for his new role, Stein has been receiving calls from Democrats nationwide eager to learn how he managed to flip the state and achieve such a wide margin of victory. In a recent interview, Stein told CNN that his success wasn’t due to flashy tactics or strategic ad campaigns, nor was it because of his speaking ability or magnetic presence. Instead, he believes his win was rooted in one simple principle: voters need to believe that you are truly fighting for them.
North Carolina, with its diverse population and complex social and economic landscape, serves as a microcosm of America. Stein’s advisers agree that while his win is a model for success, replicating it could prove difficult for other candidates, especially those without his extensive experience as a state attorney general and record of tackling important issues like clearing a rape kit backlog and addressing the opioid crisis.
Stein majored in history in college and earned a master’s in public policy from Harvard’s Kennedy School while also obtaining his law degree. However, he believes that Democrats need to shift their focus as they plan their path forward after the challenges of 2024.
“I don’t have some grand philosophical framework for it,” Stein explained. “It’s really about asking, ‘Are you working to help people improve their lives?’ If you’re addressing the issues that matter to them and demonstrating that you’ve made a difference, I believe voters will recognize and reward that.”
Stein’s Success: Navigating a Favorable Opponent and Leveraging His Record
While some political observers argue that Stein’s victory was largely due to his opponent, Mark Robinson, being an easy target, Stein’s campaign wasn’t solely reliant on Robinson’s controversies. Robinson, already known for his inflammatory remarks, was further tarnished when CNN uncovered his posts on a pornography site message board, including self-identifying as a “black Nazi” and sharing explicit details about his sexual fantasies. This scandal forced national Republicans to pull funding, and Trump distanced himself from Robinson, but Stein’s team knew that such shifts could fade, and Republicans might rally behind their candidate, as they had in past cycles.
However, Stein’s advisers maintain that the broader context of national Democratic struggles and the $20 million Republicans poured into Robinson’s campaign are often overlooked. Even before the scandal, Trump had praised Robinson at a March rally, calling him “Martin Luther King on steroids.” To counter this, Stein’s campaign focused on targeting key voter demographics, including Republican women who were staunch Trump supporters but were turned off by Robinson’s extreme views, particularly on issues like abortion.
One of the first ads Stein’s campaign ran wasn’t filled with ominous narration or flashy visuals. Instead, it featured Robinson’s own words, including an offensive Facebook Live video on abortion. This simple, direct approach struck a chord, as voters reacted negatively to Robinson’s extremism, reinforcing Stein’s message.
Stein’s Law-and-Order Record as a Shield Against GOP Attacks
Throughout his campaign, Stein’s record as attorney general was central to his narrative. He focused on his work clearing North Carolina’s rape kit backlog and prosecuting fentanyl crimes, which helped counter Republican attacks on his record. Stein argued that Republicans’ claims about public safety being at risk under his leadership were unconvincing, especially given the widespread support he received from law enforcement officials.
In addition, Stein’s campaign emphasized his bipartisan approach, a key point in a state where many voters believe Democrats are too unwilling to collaborate with Republicans. His team worked to paint him as a competent leader focused on practical, real-world solutions, aiming to build a sense of trust and competence among voters. They also discarded ideas that didn’t resonate with voter concerns, such as focusing on Robinson’s stance against federal education funding, recognizing that in 2024, issues like education were less of a priority for voters dealing with economic anxiety.
Stein’s ability to build a coalition, even with advocacy groups that may not agree with him on every issue, was also crucial. Many groups, while wanting 100% alignment on their priorities, understood the importance of winning, and were supportive of Stein despite disagreements on some policies.
Facing Recovery and Republican Challenges in Western North Carolina
Stein’s post-election focus shifted to the ongoing recovery in western North Carolina, particularly the devastating effects of Hurricane Helene. In Asheville’s River Arts district, businesses still struggle to recover, with some galleries and stores needing to be rebuilt from the ground up. A local brewery owner shared how their sales tax revenue had plummeted from $10,000 to just $600 in the wake of the storm. Buncombe County, in particular, expected a 70% revenue loss in the final months of 2024.
Stein, listening closely to local business owners, saw the deep economic impacts of the disaster. As he walked through Asheville’s main areas that hadn’t been heavily affected, he engaged with managers who voiced their concerns about survival in the face of declining revenues. One glassworks studio owner expressed worry over how few holiday orders were coming in, a stark reminder of the long road to recovery.
As Stein’s team prepares for the next stage of his administration, it’s clear that the challenges ahead—both in recovery and navigating the political landscape—will require continued focus on practical solutions and strong leadership.
Stein’s Victory Coattails and the Path Ahead
Josh Stein’s victory in the North Carolina governor’s race is expected to have a positive ripple effect across the state. Unlike his predecessor, Roy Cooper, who had to limit his time out of state due to concerns that Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson might attempt to seize power as acting governor, Stein doesn’t face the same issue. Stein expressed confidence in his Democratic lieutenant governor, trusting them to handle things in his absence while he focuses on securing federal assistance and attracting business investments to North Carolina. Thanks to the additional seat Stein helped Democrats win in the statehouse, he also won’t have to worry about the Republican supermajority overstepping their authority, as Cooper had.
However, despite Stein’s victory, Republicans in the state have used their supermajority to strip away powers from a governor they didn’t support. Stein, who has spent a decade in government and began his career in the state Senate, is not surprised by this move. He recalled working with Republicans on important issues like the opioid crisis and child sex abuse, even after they attempted to limit his powers when he was elected attorney general eight years ago. Stein has signaled that he’s prepared to challenge their latest action in court, arguing that it violates the state constitution, but he still hopes to find common ground with them on other issues.
The Trump Factor and the Road Ahead
As Stein prepares for his administration, he’s yet to speak with President-elect Trump or with Senator JD Vance, though he expressed satisfaction that the incoming vice president visited the state earlier. Despite this, Stein knows that securing hundreds of millions of dollars in disaster relief from the federal government will be much harder than getting Trump to visit the damage during the campaign. Politics are likely to make negotiations more difficult, especially with a U.S. Senate seat up for grabs in 2026, a race Stein is already hoping Roy Cooper will run for.
While other Democratic governors are already focusing on how to counter Trump’s influence, Stein hasn’t yet factored this into his transition planning. His focus remains on the immediate challenges facing North Carolina and building bipartisan relationships for the long term.