Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson announced a mystery event, to be held Thursday, where he’ll serve as acting governor of North Carolina.
But the real mystery might be: who’s actually in charge?
Gov. Roy Cooper is in Japan until Sunday with a North Carolina delegation for an economic development conference. He’s there to recruit new businesses and to encourage industry leaders to attend the conference next year, when it’ll be held in Charlotte.
Under the state constitution, Robinson becomes acting governor while Cooper is out of state.
But Cooper’s trip announcement said Cooper will “continue to direct state business” while traveling.
When asked to clarify who’s in charge, Cooper’s office doubled down, saying Robinson has no real authority to take any action while Cooper is in Japan conducting official business for the state.
Sam Chan, a spokeswoman for Cooper, said courts across the country have struck down rules similar to the one in the North Carolina Constitution, a relic of an era when people traveled by horse and cell phones didn't exist. There's no need for an acting governor, she said, when the real governor is still in constant contact with state officials even from half the world away.
"This stunt by the lieutenant governor and attempt to undermine our state's democracy is harmful to North Carolina's reputation and a reason he should never be trusted with real responsibility," she said.
An acting governor?
The Japan trip, a rare overseas venture for Cooper, is intended to build upon the state’s partnership with Japan. Already, Toyota is in the process of building a factory near Greensboro to make electric car batteries.
But Cooper’s whereabouts are of particular interest for other reasons, given the players in state executive offices.
For most of state history, the people serving as governor and lieutenant governor have been members of the same party. But that is very much not the case now. Robinson, a Republican, and Cooper, a Democrat, have frequently found themselves at odds over issues ranging from COVID-era mask mandates to gay rights, climate change and more.
Robinson hasn’t exercised gubernatorial powers while Cooper has left the state in the past, but there are concerns among Democrats about what could happen if he does.
It’s unclear what Robinson plans to do at the event Thursday morning at the state legislative building. John Waugh, a Robinson spokesman didn’t immediately respond to a request for additional information beyond a short announcement that described it as “a special event.”
Robinson is running to replace Cooper, who is term-limited and can’t run for governor again next year. Robinson is considered the Republican front-runner; Attorney General Josh Stein is likewise the favorite on the Democratic side of the aisle.
Cooper has issued a number of executive orders on gay rights and climate change as well as other hot-button issues such as abortion, gun safety and parental leave policies for state workers.
In theory, it’s possible Robinson could undo any or all of those executive orders when he becomes acting governor, or issue some new orders of his own.
Such a scenario would be unlikely to have long-term implications, however. Cooper will be back from Japan in a few days and could undo or redo any executive orders he saw fit.
