North Carolina GOP lawmakers enact a law eroding the incoming Democratic governor's powers

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina lawmakers on Wednesday enacted a law over the governor's veto that would diminish the powers afforded to his successor and other other Democratic statewide winners in the Nov. 5 elections.

In a 72-46 vote, the Republican-dominated House overrode Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper's veto a week after the GOP-controlled Senate voted to do the same.

Like during the Senate vote, opponents to the power-shifting bill sat in the gallery and disrupted the chambers' floor proceedings. More than 150 people gathered on the third floor — more than the House gallery could seat. They chanted “shame” as the override vote completed and continued to yell as they were escorted out.

After warning disruptors they would face arrest if they didn't quiet down and leave the building, General Assembly police arrested one woman who refused to leave, said police Chief Martin Brock, adding that she would face charges of trespassing, resisting arrest and violating building rules.

Many provisions within the 132-page law seek to diminish powers afforded to Gov.-elect Josh Stein, incoming attorney general Jeff Jackson, the next Democratic lieutenant governor and the schools superintendent. They all take office early next month. One of the most significant changes shifts the power to appoint State Board of Elections members from the governor to the state auditor, who will be a Republican next year.

For decades, the governor has selected its five members, with the governor’s party usually taking three seats. The enacted law transfers that power to the state auditor starting in spring. This, in turn, means Republicans will likely hold majorities on the state board and the county election boards.

The legislation also weakens the governor’s authority to fill vacancies on the state Court of Appeals and Supreme Court and prevents the attorney general from taking legal positions contrary to the General Assembly in litigation challenging a law’s validity. Several post-election deadlines will move up under the law after Republican complaints that counties took too long to count provisional and absentee ballots, especially in light of an extremely close Supreme Court race.

The veto override took place in the final days of a lame-duck General Assembly session where Republicans hold exactly the number of seats necessary to override vetoes without help from Democrats.

That won’t be the case much longer — barring a successful election protest that would flip a race’s result — after Democrats picked up one more House seat in the general elections.

Despite ultimately succeeding in their override, House Republicans had some difficulty staying unified. Some GOP lawmakers from western North Carolina — where Hurricane Helene caused historic flooding — initially voted against the measure last month. But all three — Reps. Mike Clampitt, Karl Gillespie and Mark Pless — ended up voting to override the veto.

Part of the criticism levied against the bill centered on the $252 million of Helene recovery funds attached to it, most of which can’t be spent until the General Assembly acts again.

In his veto message, Cooper called the bill a sham in which Republicans used Helene and “disaster relief” in its title to mask unconstitutional political power grabs — a message repeated by House Democrats and Stein.

“It is despicable for the Republicans in the General Assembly to use folks’ incredible need for aid to cloak their political pettiness,” Stein said in a statement after Wednesday's vote.

Other opponents to the bill said at a Wednesday news conference that GOP lawmakers weren’t serving western North Carolinians and instead were undermining democracy.

“Western North Carolina is not a toy to be played with. It is not an opportunity to exploit. It is not a place to be so violently disrespected,” said Sam Stites, a Transylvania County staff member from advocacy group Just Economics of Western North Carolina.

Republicans point out they had already allocated more than $900 million to Helene relief since October, with plans for more funding next session. Caldwell County Republican Rep. Destin Hall, who is expected to be the House speaker next year, further defended the bill's executive power shifts as the legislature's constitutional right.

“This body is entirely committed to helping folks in this state with storm relief,” Hall said. “So, in my opinion, what's happened is political football has been made out of this bill.”

It's likely the new law will soon be mired in litigation — just like eight years ago, after Republicans passed laws weakening Cooper’s powers just before he took office.

“Of course it's going to go to court,” outgoing House Speaker Tim Moore, a congressman-elect, told reporters after the vote. “That's just the way it is.”

The House also secured for the November 2026 statewide ballot a proposed constitutional amendment to require all North Carolina voters show photo identification before voting. The constitution currently only specifies that it’s required for in-person voting. ID exceptions are afforded now and would continue with the amendment, and laws separate from the state constitution already direct voters to provide a photo ID copy when voting by mail.

A demonstrator is placed under arrest after the Republican-dominated North Carolina House convened completed the override of Gov. Cooper's veto, Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024, in Raleigh, N.C. (AP Photo/Matt Kelley)

A demonstrator looks on after the Republican-dominated North Carolina House convened to complete the override of Gov. Cooper's veto, Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024, in Raleigh, N.C. (AP Photo/Matt Kelley)

A general assembly police officer escorts protestors after the Republican-dominated North Carolina House convened and completed the override of Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper's veto of a bill that aims to weaken the powers of Cooper's soon-to-be successor and other Democratic statewide winners in the Nov. 5 elections, Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024, in Raleigh, N.C. (AP Photo/Matt Kelley)

Protesters looks on as the Republican-dominated North Carolina House convened to complete the override of Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper's veto of a bill that aims to weaken the powers of Cooper's soon-to-be successor and other Democratic statewide winners in the Nov. 5 elections, Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024, in Raleigh, N.C. (AP Photo/Matt Kelley)

A protestor holds a sign as the Republican-dominated North Carolina House convened to complete the override of Gov. Cooper's veto, Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024, in Raleigh, N.C. (AP Photo/Matt Kelley)

A protester holds a sign as the Republican-dominated North Carolina House convened to complete the override of Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper's veto of a bill that aims to weaken the powers of Cooper's soon-to-be successor and other Democratic statewide winners in the Nov. 5 elections, Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024, in Raleigh, N.C. (AP Photo/Matt Kelley)

A protester reacts after the Republican-dominated North Carolina House convened to complete the override of Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper's veto of a bill that aims to weaken the powers of Cooper's soon-to-be successor and other Democratic statewide winners in the Nov. 5 elections, Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024, in Raleigh, N.C. (AP Photo/Matt Kelley)

A protestor holds a sign as the Republican-dominated North Carolina House convened to complete the override of Gov. Cooper's veto, Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024, in Raleigh, N.C. (AP Photo/Matt Kelley)

DALLAS (AP) — Juan Soto gets free use of a luxury suite and up to four premium tickets behind home plate for regular-season and postseason New York Mets home games as part of his record $765 million, 15-year contract that was finalized Wednesday.

The Mets also agreed to provide personal team security for the All-Star outfielder and his family at the team’s expense for all spring training and regular-season home and road games, according to details of the agreement obtained by The Associated Press. Major League Baseball teams usually provide security for player families in seating areas at ballparks.

New York also agreed to assist Soto's family for in-season travel arrangements, guaranteed Soto will have uniform No. 22 and included eight types of award bonuses.

Soto wore No. 22 with all his previous major league teams: the Nationals, Padres and Yankees. Young third baseman Brett Baty wore No. 22 with the Mets the past three seasons.

The Mets will formally introduce Soto in a news conference Thursday afternoon at Citi Field.

“This is a seminal moment in franchise history,” owners Steve and Alex Cohen said in a statement. “Juan Soto is a generational talent. He is not only bringing staggering historical statistics with him but also a championship pedigree."

Soto's suite will be valued at the Mets' prevailing prices, presumably for tax purposes, and after 2025 he can by each Jan. 15 modify or give up his suite selection for the upcoming season. He can request the premium tickets, to be used by family members, no later than 72 hours before the scheduled game time.

The Yankees had refused to offer Soto a free suite.

“Some high-end players that make a lot of money for us, if they want suites they buy them ... whether it's CC (Sabathia), whether it’s (Aaron) Judge, whether it’s (Gerrit) Cole, whether it’s any of these guys," general manager Brian Cashman said. "We've gone through a process on previous negotiations where asks might have happened and this is what we did and we’re going to honor those, so no regrets there."

Cashman said the Yankees have a shared suite for player families and a family room with babysitting.

Soto gets a $75 million signing bonus, payable within 60 days of the agreement’s approval by the commissioner’s office. The deal for the 26-year-old slugger, which tops Shohei Ohtani's $700 million, 10-year contract with the Dodgers, was reached Sunday pending a physical that took place Tuesday.

Soto receives salaries of $46,875,000 each in 2025 and 2026, $42.5 million in 2027, $46,875,000 apiece in 2028 and 2029 and $46 million in each of the final 10 seasons.

Soto has a contingent right to opt out of the agreement after the 2029 World Series to become a free agent again. But the Mets have an option to negate that opt-out provision by increasing the yearly salaries for 2030-39 by $4 million annually to $50 million and raising the total value to $805 million. If the club does not exercise its option to negate the opt-out provision by the third day after the World Series, Soto can make his opt-out decision by the fifth day after the Series.

He has a full no-trade provision and gets a hotel suite on road trips.

“Today’s signing further solidifies our organizational commitment to consistent championship competitiveness,” Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns said. “Not only does Juan provide historic levels of on field production, but his joy, intensity, and passion for the game mirror our budding culture. We are thrilled to add him to our team and look forward to watching his excellence for years to come.”

Soto would receive a $500,000 bonus for winning his first Most Valuable Player award and $1 million for each MVP award. He would get $350,000 for finishing second in the voting and $150,000 for finishing third through fifth. Soto was third in AL voting this year.

He would earn $100,000 for each All-Star selection and Gold Glove, $350,000 for World Series MVP and $150,000 for League Championship Series MVP.

Soto would get $100,000 for selection to the All-MLB first or second team, $150,000 for a Silver Slugger award and $100,000 for the Hank Aaron Award.

Award bonuses are to be paid by the Jan. 31 after the season in which the bonus is earned.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

FILE - New York Yankees' Juan Soto celebrates after hitting a home run against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the third inning in Game 2 of the baseball World Series, Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez, File)

FILE - New York Yankees' Juan Soto talks with agent Scott Boras before Game 1 of the baseball World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Friday, Oct. 25, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez, File)

FILE - New York Yankees' Juan Soto speaks during media day for the baseball World Series, Oct. 24, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez, File)