Republicans in the North Carolina House muscled through a set of immigration and DEI veto overrides in Raleigh on Wednesday, flipping the math after two non-Republican lawmakers were absent from the chamber. The moves cleared the three-fifths threshold by a 71-47 margin, turning GOP-backed limits on diversity, equity and inclusion programs and expanded cooperation with federal immigration authorities into law.
What passed and how the votes fell
The House voted to override Gov. Josh Stein's vetoes on Senate Bill 153, Senate Bill 227 and Senate Bill 558, with each override recorded as passing 71-47 on June 24, according to roll call records from the NC General Assembly. Together, the measures restrict many DEI programs in public K-12 schools and higher education and widen the state's role in working with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, as reported by WUNC. House leaders pushed the overrides without lengthy floor back-and-forth, arguing the bills had already been fully argued earlier in the session.
Absences changed the math
Heading into the day, Republicans were one seat shy of a veto-proof majority. That changed when Democratic Rep. Shelly Willingham and now-unaffiliated Rep. Carla Cunningham were not present for the override votes, reporters noted, according to Axios. The absences meant GOP leaders did not need any help from across the aisle to clear Stein's vetoes.
Reaction on the floor was sharp. Rep. Zack Hawkins labeled the results "frustrating" and argued they "do nothing for the people of North Carolina," while House Speaker Destin Hall countered that the process followed House rules, The News & Observer reported. Democrats also protested that leaders tightly limited debate and stacked the override votes in quick succession.
New Republican member on the floor
The vote timing also coincided with a fresh face on the Republican side of the aisle. The House had just seated Republican Dan Kiger (R-Surry), who was appointed June 23 to replace former Rep. Sarah Stevens, according to his member listing with the NC General Assembly. Kiger's swearing-in gave the caucus one more reliable vote at a moment when leaders publicly said every headcount mattered. His official biography notes the appointment date and lists his legislative office in Raleigh.
What's next
One major DEI fight now shifts to the other chamber. House Bill 171, which would prohibit DEI initiatives in state agencies, still needs Senate action on the override before it can become law, according to The News & Observer. Another pending veto override on the House calendar, a proposal to expand concealed-carry rights, was left for a future date, Axios reported.
With the budget deadline creeping closer, Wednesday's rapid-fire votes add to a growing list of Stein vetoes that Republican leaders have moved to reverse, setting the stage for more bruising partisan showdowns before lawmakers head home.
