Josh Stein

Josh Stein
Born	Joshua Harold Stein 13 9, 1966
Birthplace	Washington, D.C., U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Politician, lawyer
Known for	76th Governor of North Carolina, 51st Attorney General of North Carolina
Education	Dartmouth College (BA) Harvard Law School (JD)
Spouse(s)	Anna Harris
Children	3
Awards	Order of the Long Leaf Pine (bestowed to others as Governor)

Joshua Harold Stein (born September 13, 1966) is an American politician and lawyer serving as the 76th governor of North Carolina since January 1, 2025. A member of the Democratic Party, Stein previously served as the 51st attorney general of North Carolina from 2017 to 2025 and represented the 16th district in the North Carolina Senate from 2009 to 2016. Born in Washington, D.C., Stein moved to North Carolina as a child and built his legal and political career in the state over several decades. He earned degrees from Dartmouth College and Harvard Law School before entering public service. As attorney general, Stein became known for his work on untested rape kit backlogs, opioid litigation, and consumer protection efforts including legal action against e-cigarette manufacturers and robocall operations. In the 2024 North Carolina gubernatorial election, Stein defeated Republican nominee Mark Robinson by a margin of 14.82 percentage points, becoming North Carolina's first Jewish governor. Since taking office, Stein has focused on rural economic development, energy policy, and securing federal disaster recovery assistance for areas affected by Hurricane Helene.

Early Life

Joshua Harold Stein was born on September 13, 1966, in Washington, D.C. His family relocated to North Carolina when he was young, and he grew up in the state. Stein's father, Adam Stein, was a prominent civil rights attorney in North Carolina who was involved in significant legal battles in the state. The elder Stein's career as a lawyer focused on civil rights and social justice causes, providing a backdrop of legal advocacy in which Josh Stein was raised.

Growing up in North Carolina, Stein developed an early connection to the state's civic and political culture. His family's engagement in legal and public service matters influenced his trajectory toward law and government. Details of his childhood and adolescent years in North Carolina are limited in public records, but his upbringing in a household led by a civil rights attorney shaped his later emphasis on justice, consumer protection, and public safety as recurring themes in his political career.

Education

Stein attended Dartmouth College, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree. He subsequently enrolled at Harvard Law School, where he obtained his Juris Doctor degree. His legal education at Harvard prepared him for a career in both private legal practice and public service. After completing law school, Stein returned to North Carolina, where he would eventually enter the political sphere.

Career

North Carolina State Senate (2009–2016)

Stein was elected to the North Carolina Senate in 2008, representing the 16th Senate district. He succeeded Janet Cowell in the seat and began serving on January 1, 2009. During his tenure in the State Senate, Stein served on various committees and established a legislative record that addressed issues including public safety, education, and consumer protection.

Stein served in the North Carolina Senate for approximately seven years. His district encompassed areas in the Research Triangle region, a significant population center in the state. During his time in the legislature, Stein built relationships across party lines and developed expertise in legal and policy matters that would later define his work as attorney general.

In 2015, Stein announced his intention to run for the office of North Carolina Attorney General in the 2016 election cycle, setting the stage for his departure from the State Senate. He left the State Senate on March 21, 2016, upon winning the Democratic nomination for attorney general. He was succeeded in the 16th district by Jay Chaudhuri.

Attorney General of North Carolina (2017–2025)

2016 Election

In the 2016 North Carolina Attorney General election, Stein won the Democratic nomination and faced Republican nominee Buck Newton in the general election. The race proved to be one of the closest statewide contests in North Carolina that year, with Stein defeating Newton by a margin of just 0.54 percentage points. He took office as the 51st attorney general of North Carolina on January 1, 2017, succeeding Roy Cooper, who had been elected governor.

Rape Kit Backlog and Sexual Assault Initiatives

One of Stein's signature initiatives as attorney general was his effort to address the backlog of untested sexual assault evidence kits (commonly referred to as rape kits) in North Carolina. In 2018, Stein drew attention to the thousands of untested kits sitting in law enforcement storage facilities across the state and called for additional funding to process them.

In January 2019, Stein announced the Survivor Act and secured $6 million to combat the rape test kit backlog in North Carolina. He also called for additional funding to test the backlogged kits at the state and federal level.

The initiative produced tangible law enforcement results. In early 2020, a four-year-old sexual assault cold case was solved through DNA evidence processed as part of the backlog testing effort. DNA evidence from tested kits was also used to charge a man in a series of cold case rapes in Cumberland County. Additionally, a rape kit that had been tested as part of the initiative led to an arrest in Winston-Salem.

Opioid Crisis Litigation

Stein played a role in multistate litigation addressing the opioid epidemic in the United States. In October 2019, North Carolina was among four states that reached a settlement framework with pharmaceutical companies over the opioid crisis. The settlement aimed to hold drug manufacturers and distributors accountable for their roles in fueling opioid addiction and to direct funding toward treatment and prevention programs in affected communities.

Healthcare and the Affordable Care Act

As attorney general, Stein took legal action to defend the Affordable Care Act (ACA). North Carolina joined a coalition of states in the legal battle over the ACA, with Stein's office working to protect healthcare coverage for North Carolinians who depended on provisions of the law, including protections for pre-existing conditions and Medicaid expansion opportunities.

E-Cigarette Litigation

In 2019, Stein's office became a national leader in legal action against e-cigarette companies. North Carolina was reported to be the first state in the country to file lawsuits against e-cigarette manufacturers, targeting companies that Stein alleged had marketed their products to minors and contributed to a youth vaping epidemic.

Robocall Enforcement

Stein also led efforts to combat illegal robocalls. He led a coalition of 51 attorneys general alongside 12 telecommunications companies in an initiative aimed at stopping fraudulent and illegal robocalls, which had become a pervasive consumer protection issue across the country.

2020 Reelection

Stein sought reelection as attorney general in 2020, facing Republican nominee Jim O'Neill in the general election. The race was even closer than his initial election, with Stein winning by a margin of just 0.26 percentage points. The narrow victory underscored the competitive nature of statewide elections in North Carolina during this period.

Governor of North Carolina (2025–present)

2024 Gubernatorial Election

Stein chose not to seek a third term as attorney general and instead entered the 2024 North Carolina gubernatorial election. He won the Democratic nomination and faced Republican nominee Mark Robinson, who had been serving as lieutenant governor, in the general election. Stein defeated Robinson by a margin of 14.82 percentage points, a considerably wider margin than his previous statewide races. His victory made him the first Jewish person to serve as governor of North Carolina.

Stein succeeded Roy Cooper, under whom he had served as attorney general. His lieutenant governor is Rachel Hunt. Upon taking office on January 1, 2025, Jeff Jackson succeeded him as attorney general.

Rural Economic Development

In his first year as governor, Stein has focused on economic development in rural areas of North Carolina. In February 2026, Stein announced $43 million in investment and 206 new jobs for rural North Carolina through grants approved by the state's Rural Infrastructure Authority (RIA). The announcement included approval of 15 grant requests for local governments and communities in rural parts of the state.

Hurricane Helene Recovery

A significant challenge facing Stein's administration has been the recovery effort following Hurricane Helene, which caused substantial damage in western North Carolina. In February 2026, Stein attended the National Governors Association (NGA) meeting at the White House, where he discussed Hurricane Helene recovery aid with President Donald Trump and other officials. Stein used the meeting as an opportunity to advocate for federal disaster recovery funding for affected areas of North Carolina.

Following the NGA meeting, Stein released a statement emphasizing the importance of bipartisan cooperation in addressing the needs of North Carolinians affected by the hurricane. He stated his commitment to working with federal officials to secure necessary resources for recovery and rebuilding.

Energy Policy

Stein has also addressed energy policy issues as governor. In February 2026, following a North Carolina Court of Appeals ruling that overturned a decision allowing Duke Energy to increase rates, Stein released a statement on the matter. His comments addressed concerns about energy costs for ratepayers and the intersection of energy policy with data center development in the state.

Council of Governors

Stein participates in the Council of Governors, a federal advisory council that addresses matters of national defense, homeland security, and the National Guard. The Council held its 32nd Plenary Meeting in Washington, D.C., in February 2026, coinciding with the NGA meeting.

Cultural and Community Engagement

During Black History Month in February 2026, Stein celebrated Black farmers and agricultural leaders in North Carolina. He honored several individuals, including former NFL player Jason Brown, with the Order of the Long Leaf Pine, one of North Carolina's highest civilian honors.

Personal Life

Josh Stein is married to Anna Harris. The couple has three children together. The family resides at the North Carolina Executive Mansion in Raleigh, which serves as the primary residence of the governor, with the Western Residence available as a secondary residence.

Stein is Jewish and became the first Jewish governor of North Carolina upon taking office in January 2025. His father, Adam Stein, was a civil rights attorney in the state, and the family has deep roots in North Carolina's legal and civic communities.

Recognition

Stein's tenure as attorney general was marked by several initiatives that received national attention. His office's work on the rape kit backlog was credited with solving multiple cold cases across North Carolina, leading to arrests in sexual assault cases that had gone unsolved for years. North Carolina's position as the first state to file lawsuits against e-cigarette companies was noted as a precedent in state-level consumer protection enforcement.

His leadership of a coalition of 51 attorneys general to combat robocalls represented one of the larger coordinated state-level consumer protection efforts in recent years.

As governor, Stein's historical significance as North Carolina's first Jewish governor has been widely noted. His 2024 gubernatorial victory, with its 14.82-point margin, represented one of the more decisive gubernatorial election outcomes in North Carolina in recent election cycles, following two terms in which he had won his attorney general races by fractions of a percentage point.