RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — The outdoor public inauguration ceremony for newly elected North Carolina Governor Josh Stein was abruptly canceled due to inclement winter weather conditions. Instead, Governor Stein opted to kick off his term in office with a televised address from indoors. The Governor was scheduled to deliver his speech on Saturday in Raleigh, moving the event inside from the original location outside the old Capitol building. The inauguration ceremony was intended to include the swearing-in of the Democratic governor and other statewide executive branch officials within the Council of State. However, forecasts predicting snow, sleet, and freezing rain for Friday and parts of Saturday led the state inaugural committee to call off the public festivities, including a block party that may be rescheduled for a later date. Additionally, official inauguration parties set for Friday and Saturday nights were also postponed.
Governor Stein, along with several members of the Council of State, had already taken their official oaths in private or in small ceremonies earlier in the new year. Stein, who succeeded the term-limited Democratic Governor Roy Cooper, gave a brief address during his swearing-in on January 1. The televised address on Saturday, which was set to be streamed by North Carolina public television, was expected to be more extensive. Stein, who previously served as the state’s attorney general for eight years and defeated then-Lieutenant Governor Mark Robinson in the November election, has highlighted Hurricane Helene recovery as a primary focus early in his term. He has made two trips to western North Carolina since the start of the year and has issued six executive orders regarding the state government’s response to the historic flooding.
Republican leaders in the state legislature expressed optimism on the opening day of the General Assembly this week, indicating a willingness to collaborate with Governor Stein to allocate additional hurricane recovery funds in early 2025. In terms of more partisan matters, Stein holds a stronger position compared to Governor Cooper since 2023 in terms of preventing legislation he vetoes from being overridden. With Republicans falling just one House seat short of securing a veto-proof majority in the legislature, Stein’s vetoes could potentially be upheld if House Democrats remain unified.
Governor Cooper himself faced challenges during his inaugurations in the past. Upon taking office in 2017, inclement weather conditions led to the cancellation of a public swearing-in ceremony and inaugural parade. Four years later, following his reelection, COVID-19 restrictions prohibited large gatherings, resulting in a televised inauguration ceremony for Governor Cooper and fellow Council members held outside the Executive Mansion.
