North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein delivers his inaugural address at the Capitol Building in Raleigh on Jan. 11, 2025. (Photo: Galen Bacharier/NC Newsline)
A new Meredith College poll shows North Carolina governor Josh Stein is off to solid start. Fifty-eight percent of North Carolina voters — including 54 percent of Republicans — approve of his performance thus far, while only 19% disapprove.
Stein’s ratings have been boosted by his energetic and bipartisan work to promote Hurricane Helene recovery.
What’s more, unlike President Trump, whose approval rating is already underwater, Stein has avoided unnecessary confrontation. Instead, he’s opted for sober, middle ground positions that reflect where most North Carolinians come down.
The latest example: Stein’s call for a freeze on state tax rates. As the governor notes, with Helene costs rising, federal aid increasingly uncertain, and state revenue projections shaky, now is a good time for the state to step back, run the numbers, and see how things play out for a while before plowing ahead with new tax cuts.
The bottom line: The state legislature, whose popularity with voters lags Stein’s by a mile, would do well to heed the governor’s commonsense recommendation.
For NC Newsline, I’m Rob Schofield.