Ex-Democrats hand North Carolina GOP key votes

Catch up quick: Cunningham and Majeed switched to unaffiliated after losing their Democratic primaries in March.

• They had sided with Republicans in the past, which is why they faced primary challenges.

Zoom in: If voters approve the ballot measures this fall, the three constitutional amendments will:

• Require limits on local governments' property tax increases.
• Cap the state's income tax rate at 3.5%.
• Limit the governor's choices for filling vacancies in certain statewide elected positions — such as the commissioner of insurance — to three names submitted by the political party of the person who's leaving. (Note: This must first pass the GOP-controlled Senate.)

How it works: Constitutional amendments initiated by the General Assembly require a three-fifths majority in both chambers. They do not require the governor's sign-off.

• A majority of voters must then ratify the amendment.

🏘️ The intrigue: It's unclear what form the property tax limits would take, since the amendment contains no specifics.

• Cunningham said on the floor Wednesday: "We're talking about an economy that right now people are struggling to put food on their table, keep gas in their car. … Everybody's got to tighten their belt around here."
• The other side: House Democratic Leader Robert Reives said he expects less palatable provisions will be attached to the eventual legislation. "It's going to have this beautiful sheep's clothing on it, that we're going to help people with their property taxes," he said.

💰 State of play: The 3.5% income tax cap was negotiated by Senate and House leadership as part of the recently announced budget framework.

• Rep. Marcia Morey (D-Durham) acknowledged it "sounds great" but said it "is a dangerous amendment to put on a ballot without fully explaining the consequences to voters," because it would hamstring one of the state's key means of generating revenue for areas like education and public safety.
• Rep. Neal Jackson (R-Moore) responded: "We can paint that the sky is falling, but we have a 15-year track record. Cutting taxes with responsible spending works."

📜 Between the lines: Enshrining the policies in the state constitution would protect Republican tax policies even if political winds shift in Democrats' favor.

• Majeed, who served on the Charlotte City Council in the 1990s, didn't answer questions from Axios about this directly. He said his votes were for seniors struggling with the cost of living.
• "One-half this, half-dozen another. You know, this is where we are now. This is what … we came to. I guess this is the road we're going to proceed down," he responded when asked a second time.

❌ The House also overrode Gov. Josh Stein's veto of H.B. 87, which would make North Carolinians eligible for $1,700 in federal tax credits if they donate to organizations that support private schools.

• Stein said in August at the time of his veto that he might support the legislation but couldn't be sure until the Trump administration finalized the details.
• Cunningham voted for it when it originally passed; Majeed did not.

By the numbers: Final votes on the constitutional amendments and veto override were 73-46, with the unaffiliated members and Republicans united.

• No Democrats defected. Rep. Shelly Willingham (D-Edgecombe) was absent.

Context: Five of the more controversial vetoes — on topics like immigration; gun control; and diversity, equity and inclusion — remain pending in the House.

• Before Wednesday, the House had not taken up any veto overrides since last summer.

What they're saying: House Speaker Destin Hall typically won't call a vote unless he knows he has the votes. Hall said he met with Majeed and Cunningham ahead of Wednesday's votes.

• "We have a working relationship with those members, and where I can help them, I do. Where they can be with us on something, they will. Doesn't mean that's on everything," Hall told reporters after the session ended. "I mean, they're just independent thinkers."

What's next: The proposed income and property tax cap amendments will appear on North Carolina ballots in November. Meanwhile, the veto override and third constitutional amendment must also clear the Senate, where Republicans hold a veto-proof majority.

• Two other constitutional amendments are also moving through the General Assembly.