Phil Berger and Sarah Stevens have spent their last days at the NC General Assembly writing some of the worst bills of their career, leaving behind legislation that is chock-full of voter suppression tactics and legacies that are big on corruption.

President Trump appointed Whatley to lead the rebuild of North Carolina in the wake of the storm, appointing him as a co-chair to the FEMA Review Council and giving him the title of Hurricane Helene Recovery Czar. What followed was a dismal federal response, delayed funding, and corrupt decision-making.

At the end of the day, we will take a budget over no budget. But we need to see this for what it is– a first step. There’s more work to be done, and we need to elect leaders to the NCGA who will do it.

NC Republicans made us the only state in the country to fail to pass a budget in 2025, and now they’re expected to miss the deadline for 2026 as well. 

Here’s a look back at Rep. Stevens’ time in the North Carolina General Assembly– it’s the kind of resume that you really don’t want to see from someone aspiring to sit on the NC Supreme Court.