RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) – North Carolina’s incoming Democratic governor sued Friday over a new law passed by Republican legislators to limit his powers as he prepares to take office.
In his lawsuit, Gov.-elect Roy Cooper asks a Wake County judge to block a law that ends the control governors exert over statewide and county election boards from taking effect Sunday, when he’ll be sworn in.
The lawsuit says the Republican-led legislature’s radical changes two weeks ago to the administration of election laws are unconstitutional because they violate separation of powers.
The changes convert the state elections board from one that governors have controlled into a bipartisan body with equal numbers of Republicans and Democrats. County election boards would have two members from each party, rather than the current three members with a majority from the governor’s party.
On Friday afternoon, a judge was hearing arguments by lawyers representing Cooper who are seeking an emergency ruling to halt the law from taking effect.