The NCGA 2025-2026 session kicked off Wednesday, January 29th, with Republicans holding a veto-proof majority in the Senate (30 Rs to 20 Ds) and falling one member shy of a veto-proof majority in the House (71 Rs to 49 Ds). 

With Democratic Governor Josh Stein ready to wield the veto, the big question is: Which House Democrats might cross party lines to help Republicans override it? 

A single vote could tip the balance, making it crucial for advocates to understand past voting patterns. In this post, we analyze veto override trends from the last three biennia, highlighting key takeaways to help you navigate the legislative landscape in the months ahead.

7 NC House Democrats to Watch

Seven currently serving Democratic House members have voted with Republicans to override vetoes in the past three biennia. 

As the 2025 session unfolds, these legislators could play a pivotal role in shaping key outcomes. They are:

1. Representative Shelly Willingham (District 23: Bertie, Edgecombe, Martin)

   • Override Votes: 15 (all in 2023-2024) 

   • Supported Overrides: Charter school bills, banking and finance bills, business-friendly bills 

   • Opposed Overrides: Public school bills, criminal justice bills, gun rights bills, abortion and gender-related bills, election law bills and bills shifting political power
     
     

2. Representative Cecil Brockman (District 60: Guilford)

   • Override Votes: 9 (all in 2023-2024) 

   • Excused Absences on Override Votes: 9

   • Supported Overrides: Gun rights bills, charter school bills, banking and finance bills, business-friendly bills, election law bills and bills shifting political power

   • Opposed Overrides: Public school bills, criminal justice bills, abortion and gender-related bills

   
   

3. Representative Carla D. Cunningham (District 106: Mecklenburg)

   • Override Votes: 9 (all in 2023-2024) 

   • Supported Overrides: Business-friendly bills 

   • Opposed Overrides: Public school bills, charter school bills, banking and finance bills, criminal justice bills, gun rights bills, abortion and gender-related bills, election law bills and bills shifting political power
     
     

4. Representative Garland E. Pierce (District 48: Hoke, Scotland) 

   • Override Votes: 9 (1 in 2019-2020, 8 in 2023-2024) 

   • Supported Overrides: Abortion and gender-related bills, some banking and finance bills, business-friendly bills 

   • Opposed Overrides: Public school bills, charter school bills, some banking and finance bills, criminal justice bills, gun rights bills, election law bills and bills shifting political power
     
     

5.  Representative Nasif Majeed (District 99: Mecklenburg)

   • Override Votes: 5 (all in 2023-2024) 

   • Supported Overrides: Business-friendly bills 

   • Opposed Overrides: Public school bills, charter school bills, banking and finance bills, criminal justice bills, gun rights bills, abortion and gender-related bills, election law bills and bills shifting political power
     
     

6. Representative Amos L. Quick, III (District 58: Guildford)

   • Override Votes: 1 (2023-2024) 

   • Supported Override: H10 (Require ICE Cooperation & Budget Adjustments.)
     
     

7. Representative Charles Smith (District 44: Cumberland)

   • Override Votes: 1 (2023-2024) 

   • Supported Override: S166 (2024 Building Code Regulatory Reform) 

Key Takeaways

• BILL TOPICS MATTER 

  • These 7 Democrats were most likely to vote to override vetoes on: 

    • Charter school bills 

    • Banking and finance bills 

    • Business-friendly bills.

  • They were less likely to vote to override vetoes on: 

    • Criminal justice bills 

    • Abortion and gender-related bills 

    • Election law bills and bills that would shift political power

• THE SAFETY OF A VETO-PROOF MAJORITY 
  Democrats have historically been more willing to vote for veto overrides when Republicans already hold a veto-proof majority—like in the 2023-2024 biennium—than when the GOP falls short, as in 2019-2020 and 2021-2022. This suggests that some Democrats may feel more comfortable adding to an override margin rather than being the decisive vote that breaks with their party.
  
  

• STRENGTH IN NUMBERS? 
  When Democrats vote to override a veto or are absent from an override vote, they rarely act alone. In nearly every case, at least two Democrats vote together or are absent.  Presumably there is strength, or at least protection, in numbers.
  
  

• THE POWER OF A PARTY SWITCH 
  At the start of the 2023 session, Republicans held the same margins in the House and Senate as they do today. But when Rep. Tricia Cotham switched from Democrat to Republican, the GOP secured a veto-proof majority in both chambers and proceeded to override every veto issued during the 2023-2024 biennium. If history repeats itself, a single Democratic defection could once again tip the balance of power.

Analysis Summary - By Biennium

The following tables show the veto override votes for the 2023-2024, 2021-2022, and 2019-2020 biennia where a Democratic member either voted in favor of the override or was absent for the vote.

2023-2024 BIENNIUM

• Veto-proof Majority (House: 72 Rs/48 Ds; Senate: 30 Rs/20 Ds)

• 29 Vetoes/29 Overrides 

• NC House Democrats in the 2025 General Assembly who voted during the 2023-2024 Biennium to override a veto by a Democratic
  Governor:

  • Representative Willingham (District 23: Bertie, Edgecombe, Martin) (15 override votes) 

  • Representative Brockman (District 60: Guildford) (9 override votes) (9 excused absences over multiple voting days) 

  • Representative Cunningham (District 106: Mecklenburg) (9 override votes) 

  • Representative Pierce (District 48: Hoke, Scotland) (8 override votes) 

  • Representative Majeed (District 99: Mecklenburg) (5 override votes) 

  • Representative Quick, III (District 58: Guildford) (1 override vote) 

  • Representative Smith (District 44: Cumberland) (1 override vote)

• NC Senate Democrats in the 2025 General Assembly who voted during the 2023-2024 Biennium to override a veto by a Democratic Governor:

  • None

2021-2022 BIENNIUM

• No Veto-proof Majority (House: 69 Rs/51Ds; Senate: 28 Rs/22Ds) 

• 22 Vetoes / 0 Overrides 

• NC House Democrats in the 2025 General Assembly who voted during the 2021-2022 Biennium to override a veto by a Democratic Governor: 

  • None

• NC Senate Democrats in the 2025 General Assembly who voted during the 2021-2022 Biennium to override a veto by a Democratic Governor: 

  • None

2019-2020 BIENNIUM

Note: Analysis excluded the veto override votes for H996 and H555 during the 2019 Session due to large numbers of House Democrats absent due to understanding that no session would be held on the day of the votes.

• No Veto-proof Majority (House: 65 Rs/55Ds; Senate: 29 Rs/21Ds) 

• 25 Vetoes / 0 Overrides 

• NC House Democrats currently serving in the 2025 General Assembly who voted during the 2019-2020 Biennium to override a veto by a Democratic Governor: 

  • Representative Pierce (District 48: Hoke, Scotland) (1 override vote) 

• NC Senate Democrats currently serving in the 2025 General Assembly who voted during the 2019-2020 Biennium to override a veto by a Democratic Governor: 

  • None