Josh Stein

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Template:Short description Script error: No such module "For". Script error: No such module "Unsubst". Template:Use American English Script error: No such module "infobox".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".Script error: No such module "Check for conflicting parameters". Joshua Harold Stein (born September 13, 1966)[1] is an American politician and lawyer serving as the 76th governor of North Carolina since 2025. A member of the Democratic Party, Stein served as the 51st attorney general of North Carolina from 2017 to 2025 and in the North Carolina Senate from 2009 to 2016.

Born in Washington, D.C., Stein moved to North Carolina with his family at an early age. He studied at Dartmouth College and earned his Juris Doctor degree from Harvard Law School before being elected to represent North Carolina's 16th Senate district in 2008. Stein left the State Senate upon winning the Democratic nomination in the 2016 North Carolina Attorney General election, in which he defeated Republican nominee Buck Newton by 0.54%.[2][3] He was reelected in 2020, narrowly defeating Republican nominee Jim O'Neill by 0.26%.[4]

Stein chose not to seek a third term as state attorney general and instead ran for governor in the 2024 election.[5] After winning the Democratic nomination, he defeated Republican nominee Mark Robinson in the general election by 14.82%. He is North Carolina's first Jewish governor.[6]

Early life and education

Stein was born on September 13, 1966, in Washington, D.C., the son of Jane (Stoneman) and Adam Stein.[7] His family moved to Charlotte, North Carolina, before settling in Chapel Hill, where his father co-founded North Carolina's first integrated law firm.[8][9]

Stein attended Chapel Hill High School and played on its state championship soccer team.[10][11] After graduating, he earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in history from Dartmouth College in 1988.[12] After college, he taught English and economics in Zimbabwe.[13] Stein went on to earn degrees from Harvard Law School and the Kennedy School of Government.

Early career

File:Josh Stein.jpg
Stein during his tenure as a state senator, 2013

In the 1990s, Stein worked as an intern for State Representative Dan Blue. Out of law school, Stein worked for the Self-Help Credit Union and the North Carolina Minority Support Center.[14] After managing John Edwards's 1998 U.S. Senate campaign,[15] he served as Edwards's deputy chief of staff from January 1999 to December 2000.[16] According to Edwards official Andrew Young, Elizabeth Edwards prevented her husband from naming Stein his chief of staff in the Senate because he withheld information from her at John's direction.[17]

In 2001, North Carolina Attorney General Roy Cooper appointed Stein as Senior Deputy Attorney General for Consumer Protection.[10] He held that position until his election to the State Senate in 2008.[18][14] From 2012 until 2016, he served as of counsel at Smith Moore Leatherwood LLP, a regional law firm.

Stein defeated Republican John Alexander to represent the 16th district in the North Carolina Senate in 2008.[19] After being reelected in 2010, he was elected minority whip by his colleagues.[20]

In the Senate, Stein worked to expand the state's DNA database, ban cyberstalking, extend and expand the state's renewable energy tax credit, and improve school safety.[21][22][23]

North Carolina Attorney General

File:Josh Stein speaks at Fayetteville rally, 2016 IMG 3124.CR2 (30146548093).jpg
Stein speaks at a Fayetteville campaign rally, 2016

In 2016, Stein became the first Jewish person to win a statewide election in North Carolina. As attorney general, he worked to eliminate North Carolina's backlog of untested sexual assault kits, the nation's largest.[24][25][26] This led to arrests in cases involving a 2015 assault and attempted murder in Durham, North Carolina;[27] assaults in 2009 and 2010 in Fayetteville;[28] and a 1993 assault in Winston-Salem.[29]

Stein led the bipartisan effort of state attorneys general to negotiate a national settlement framework with drug companies—manufacturers, distributors, and pharmacy chains—over the nation's opioid epidemic, totaling more than $50 billion.[30] North Carolina's share of the settlement was $1.5 billion.[31] Stein negotiated a memorandum of agreement with the state's counties that ensured the vast majority of the funds would go to prevention, harm reduction, treatment or recovery.[32] Johns Hopkins School of Public Health recognized this partnership as one of the best in the nation.[33]

In 2018, Stein filed a brief with the United States Supreme Court arguing in favor of the Affordable Care Act.[34] In 2019, he became the country's first attorney general to sue e-cigarette manufacturer Juul for unlawful marketing to minors.[35] Stein won multiple settlements with Juul totaling nearly $48 million, setting a standard the rest of the nation followed.[36][37]

Stein filed briefs supporting medication abortions and opposing restrictions on women from traveling to receive healthcare.[38][39] He opposed the state's 12-week abortion ban enacted in 2023.[40]

File:Josh Stein speaking at DMV License and Theft event (cropped).jpg
Stein speaks at a department of motor vehicle license and theft event, 2021

Stein negotiated eight Anti-Robocall Principles with a bipartisan coalition of 51 attorneys general and 12 companies to protect phone users from illegal robocalls.[41] He also launched Operation Silver Shield, an effort to protect older North Carolinians from fraud and scams.Script error: No such module "Unsubst".

After the COVID-19 pandemic began, Stein won a preliminary injunction against a Charlotte tow company sued for price-gouging[42] and announced the investigation of nine North Carolina–based sellers on Amazon accused of raising prices on coronavirus-related products, including hand sanitizer and N95 masks.[43] Stein won more than $1 million in price-gouging cases.[44]

On August 21, 2021, the legislature voted to remove Stein as its legal representation before the courts after he refused to appeal the findings of a lower court that a North Carolina state law that disenfranchised anyone convicted of a felony was unconstitutional. Stein said he had been waiting for the ruling to be formally filed. Legislative leaders alleged Stein was "slow-walking" the case to allow felons to vote in the next election.[45][46]Template:Better source needed

Governor of North Carolina

Election

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File:2024 North Carolina gubernatorial election results map by county.svg
Map of the 2024 North Carolina gubernatorial election results.

On January 18, 2023, Stein announced his candidacy for governor of North Carolina in the 2024 election.[15] He was endorsed by Governor Roy Cooper and hundreds of other elected officials and organizations.[47][48]

On Super Tuesday, Stein advanced to the general election and faced Republican lieutenant governor Mark Robinson.[49] After a CNN report on inflammatory and antisemitic comments Robinson had made on a pornography forum, Stein became the heavy favorite.[50][51]

Stein won the election by a margin of 14.8%, even as Republican Donald Trump defeated Democrat Kamala Harris by 3.2% in the concurrent 2024 presidential election in North Carolina. Stein had previously won statewide by only 0.54% in 2016 and 0.26% in 2020.

Tenure

File:GOV 2025-01-06 Cabinet Swearing in-201-.jpg
Governor Stein (center) with his newly sworn in cabinet members, 2025

On January 1, 2025, Stein was sworn in as the 76th governor of North Carolina, becoming the state's first Jewish governor.[52]

Approval ratings

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Template:Sro
Poll source Date Sample
sizeTemplate:Efn 		MoE Approve Disapprove Unsure/
Other
Meredith College February 2-8, 2025 759 RV ± 3.5% 56% 24% 20%

Template:Sticky table end

Personal life

Stein is married to Anna Harris Stein. They have three children. He and his family are members of Temple Beth Or, a Reform synagogue in Raleigh.[13] He is a former YMCA basketball and J.C.C. soccer coach.[12] On May 17, 2025, Stein's Chapel Hill High School 1983 state champion boys' soccer team was inducted into the school's Hall of Fame.[53]

Electoral history

North Carolina Senate
2008 North Carolina Senate, 16th district election
Party Candidate Votes %
Script error: No such module "Political party". Josh Stein Script error: No such module "string". 60.83
Script error: No such module "Political party". John Alexander Script error: No such module "string". 39.17
Total votes Script error: No such module "string". 100.00

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2010 North Carolina Senate, 16th district election
Party Candidate Votes %
Script error: No such module "Political party". Josh Stein (incumbent) Script error: No such module "string". 54.89
Script error: No such module "Political party". Michael Beezley Script error: No such module "string". 41.64
Script error: No such module "Political party". Stephanie Watson Script error: No such module "string". 3.47
Total votes Script error: No such module "string". 100.00

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2012 North Carolina Senate, 16th district election
Party Candidate Votes %
Script error: No such module "Political party". Josh Stein (incumbent) Script error: No such module "string". 100.00
Total votes Script error: No such module "string". 100.00

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2014 North Carolina Senate, 16th district election
Party Candidate Votes %
Script error: No such module "Political party". Josh Stein (incumbent) Script error: No such module "string". 67.11
Script error: No such module "Political party". Jason Mitchell Script error: No such module "string". 32.89
Total votes Script error: No such module "string". 100.00

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Attorney general
2016 North Carolina Attorney General primary
Party Candidate Votes %
Script error: No such module "Political party". Josh Stein Script error: No such module "string". 53.37
Script error: No such module "Political party". Marcus Williams Script error: No such module "string". 46.63
Total votes Script error: No such module "string". 100.00

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2016 North Carolina Attorney General election
Party Candidate Votes %
Script error: No such module "Political party". Josh Stein Script error: No such module "string". 50.27
Script error: No such module "Political party". Buck Newton Script error: No such module "string". 49.73
Total votes Script error: No such module "string". 100.00

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2020 North Carolina Attorney General election
Party Candidate Votes % <templatestyles src="Template:Tooltip/styles.css" />±%Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
Script error: No such module "Political party". Josh Stein (incumbent) Template:Replace 50.13 Script error: No such module "String".
Script error: No such module "Political party". Jim O'Neill 2,699,778 49.87 Script error: No such module "String".
Total votes 5,413,178 100.00 N/A

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Governor
2024 North Carolina gubernatorial primary
Party Candidate Votes %
Script error: No such module "Political party". Josh Stein Script error: No such module "string". 69.64
Script error: No such module "Political party". Michael R. Morgan Script error: No such module "string". 14.31
Script error: No such module "Political party". Chrelle Booker Script error: No such module "string". 6.68
Script error: No such module "Political party". Marcus Williams Script error: No such module "string". 5.70
Script error: No such module "Political party". Gary Foxx Script error: No such module "string". 3.67
Total votes Script error: No such module "string". 100.00

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2024 North Carolina gubernatorial election
Party Candidate Votes % <templatestyles src="Template:Tooltip/styles.css" />±%Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
Script error: No such module "Political party". Josh Stein Template:Replace 54.90% Script error: No such module "String".
Script error: No such module "Political party". Mark Robinson 2,241,309 40.08% Script error: No such module "String".
Script error: No such module "Political party". Mike Ross 176,392 3.14% Script error: No such module "String".
Script error: No such module "Political party". Vinny Smith 54,607 0.98% Script error: No such module "String".
Script error: No such module "Political party". Wayne Turner 49,384 0.88% Script error: No such module "String".
Total votes 5,591,547 100%
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See also

References

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  9. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  10. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  11. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  12. ↑ a b N.C. SENATE DISTRICT 16. The News and Observer. October 25, 2008.
  13. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  14. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  15. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  16. ↑ Helms takes aim at court. The News and Observer. December 2, 2000.
  17. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  18. ↑ Sen. Josh Stein - a different seat at the table. The News and Observer. January 28, 2009.
  19. ↑ Dalesio, Emery (November 5, 2008). Democrats likely to keep hold of state legislature. The Charlotte Observer.
  20. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  21. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
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  27. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  28. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  29. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  30. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  31. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  32. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  33. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  34. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  35. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
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  40. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
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  44. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  45. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
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  47. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  48. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  49. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
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  51. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  52. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  53. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".

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Further reading

External links

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Template:Error
Preceded byTemplate:S-bef/check Member from the 16th district
2009–2016 Template:S-ttl/check 		Template:S-aft/check Succeeded by
Party political offices
Preceded byTemplate:S-bef/check Democratic nominee for Attorney General of North Carolina
2016, 2020 Template:S-ttl/check 		Template:S-aft/check Succeeded by
Democratic nominee for Governor of North Carolina
2024 Template:S-ttl/check 		Most recent
Legal offices
Preceded byTemplate:S-bef/check Attorney General of North Carolina
2017–2025 Template:S-ttl/check 		Template:S-aft/check Succeeded by
Political offices
Preceded byTemplate:S-bef/check Governor of North Carolina
2025–present Template:S-ttl/check 		Incumbent
U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial)
Preceded byas Vice President Template:S-bef/check Order of precedence of the United States
Within North Carolina Template:S-ttl/check 		Template:S-aft/check Succeeded by
Template:S-aft/check Succeeded byas Speaker of the House
Preceded byas Governor of New York Template:S-bef/check Order of precedence of the United States
Outside North Carolina Template:S-ttl/check 		Template:S-aft/check Succeeded byas Governor of Rhode Island

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