Under the Dome: The 10 moments we’ll remember from 2023 in NC politics news

Dawn Baumgartner Vaughan
·2 min read

This has been a doozy of a year in North Carolina politics.

Sure, you could say that a lot of years. But 2023 was really something.

Our end-of-the-year Under the Dome podcast has the full News & Observer Capitol Press Corps team that covers the General Assembly. That’s yours truly, Dawn Vaughan, along with Avi Bajpai, Luciana Perez Uribe Guinassi and Kyle Ingram.

Listen to hear our list of 10 moments we’ll remember, and the conversation around each news story. Listen to or watch our latest episode below and catch up on previous episodes. You can also listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Audible, iHeart, Pandora, Amazon Music and Stitcher. You can also watch video of our Under the Dome podcast on YouTube.

Plus, you can read our coverage linked below in the full rankings:

1. State Rep. Tricia Cotham switches parties from Democrat to Republican in the middle of the legislative session, giving Republicans a veto-proof supermajority.

2. Republicans override veto after veto from Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper, starting with gun permits.

North Carolina House speaker Tim Moore stamps a veto override after a vote to overturn Gov. Roy Cooper’s veto of an abortion restriction bill Tuesday, May 16, 2023, at the Legislative Building in Raleigh, N.C.
North Carolina House speaker Tim Moore stamps a veto override after a vote to overturn Gov. Roy Cooper’s veto of an abortion restriction bill Tuesday, May 16, 2023, at the Legislative Building in Raleigh, N.C.

3. Senate Bill 20, which restricts abortions after the first trimester, becomes law.

Sen. Gladys Robinson, a Guilford County Democrat, votes against an abortion restrictions bill that was up for a veto override vote on Tuesday, May 16, 2023, at the Legislative Building in Raleigh, N.C. Republicans have a veto-proof supermajority in the General Assembly, with the ability to overturn a veto from Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper.
Sen. Gladys Robinson, a Guilford County Democrat, votes against an abortion restrictions bill that was up for a veto override vote on Tuesday, May 16, 2023, at the Legislative Building in Raleigh, N.C. Republicans have a veto-proof supermajority in the General Assembly, with the ability to overturn a veto from Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper.

4. Medicaid expansion becomes law, after a delay.

5. That delay was caused by the state budget negotiations, which drag out this year over whether to legalize nontribal casinos. The casino fight is a contentious one involving the top Republicans: Senate leader Phil Berger and House Speaker Tim Moore.

6. Moore makes news for multiple reasons. This year he announces this will be his last term and that he is running for Congress, and he acknowledges an “on-again, off-again” relationship that makes him the subject of a lawsuit.

7. Redistricting. New maps for the state House, Senate and Congress change who will run in the upcoming 2024 elections and lead to some departures and lawsuits.

A North Carolina Senate staffer looks over a proposed congressional map during a Senate Committee on Redistricting and Elections meeting at the Legislative Office Building in Raleigh, Thursday, October. 19, 2023.
A North Carolina Senate staffer looks over a proposed congressional map during a Senate Committee on Redistricting and Elections meeting at the Legislative Office Building in Raleigh, Thursday, October. 19, 2023.

8. State Auditor Beth Wood resigns, nearly a year after she wrecked her state-owned car after a holiday party where she drank alcohol, an incident that is followed by an investigation of Wood for misuse of her state vehicle.

North Carolina State Auditor Beth Wood makes an appearance in Wake County court on Thursday, March 23, 2023 in Raleigh, N.C. Woods pleaded guilty to misdemeanor hit-and-run. She was charged after striking a parked car on Salisbury Street in December 2022 and leaving the scene of the accident.
North Carolina State Auditor Beth Wood makes an appearance in Wake County court on Thursday, March 23, 2023 in Raleigh, N.C. Woods pleaded guilty to misdemeanor hit-and-run. She was charged after striking a parked car on Salisbury Street in December 2022 and leaving the scene of the accident.

9. U.S. Rep. Patrick McHenry, a Lincoln County Republican, is briefly speaker of the U.S. House. Then he isn’t, and decides to leave Congress, too, opening up a competitive primary.

In this Oct 17, 2023 photo U.S. Rep. Patrick McHenry, R-N.C. was presiding over the U.S. House of Representatives as temporary Speaker Pro Tempore while members attempted to elect a new speaker.
In this Oct 17, 2023 photo U.S. Rep. Patrick McHenry, R-N.C. was presiding over the U.S. House of Representatives as temporary Speaker Pro Tempore while members attempted to elect a new speaker.

10. Among the veto overrides are multiple “culture wars” bills that target transgender students, athletes and youth.

Advocates opposing veto overrides of N.C. bills banning transgender athletes and restrictions on gender-affirming care for minors hold a press conference at the Legislative Building in Raleigh on Aug. 16, 2023.
Advocates opposing veto overrides of N.C. bills banning transgender athletes and restrictions on gender-affirming care for minors hold a press conference at the Legislative Building in Raleigh on Aug. 16, 2023.
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