Battle over DEI heating up in North Carolina

Gov. Josh Stein, a Democrat, vetoed three bills that would have banned DEI efforts in public schools, higher education and state agencies. 

While Republicans have previously overturned some of Stein's vetoes with Democratic support, they've struggled to advance anti-DEI legislation.

That dynamic is unlikely to change.

Earlier this year, the state's General Assembly passed three bills barring public schools, universities and government offices from what they considered discriminatory practices or teaching certain DEI-related concepts to students. 

Stein's veto sent the measures back to the lawmakers, who could override him, but Republicans have not been able to close the gap.

The GOP holds a veto-proof majority in the Senate but is one seat short in the House. Last month, the Senate voted to override two of Stein's vetoes, but the House has not acted.

They wrote in part that the group "stands united to defend the freedoms, responsibilities, and opportunities that belong to every person in our state, especially those from communities that have been historically excluded or marginalized."

In a March speech before a joint session of Congress, Trump declared that his administration had "ended the tyranny of so-called diversity, equity and inclusion policies" across the federal government, the private sector and the military.