Attorney General Josh Stein visits UNC campus, discusses election issues

Josh Stein, N.C. attorney general and democratic candidate for governor, spoke in the Pit on Thursday about issues affecting North Carolina this coming election season. 

Sloan Duvall, the president of UNC Young Democrats, said the event aimed to bring election engagement and education to campus. Despite the rain, she said about 100 students attended.

“I think a lot of times our generation feels like we're being forced to choose between the lesser of two evils when it comes to choosing between candidates — ‘vote for this candidate, just because this one is so bad,’” Duvall said. “And I want UNC students and students across North Carolina to know that by no means is that the case in this election.” 

Stein, who grew up in Chapel Hill, shook hands with attendees in the crowd before his speech and individually spoke with students after. 

“What we pray for, as parents, is that our kids and our grandkids also want to call North Carolina home,” he said. “And I may not know your parents, but I can tell you this: they want you to call North Carolina home as well. But friends, our home is under assault.”

Stein spoke about his accomplishments as attorney general — winning $30 million in loan relief for student borrowers, securing a $35 million grant for people in North Carolina struggling with opioid addiction and suing DuPont for polluting the Cape Fear River. 

He said that if he is elected, he would work to provide good healthcare, enact gun safety reform, cut taxes for working families and raise the minimum wage. 

First-year student Evan Klein said he was specifically interested in what Stein had to say about raising the minimum wage and helping with student loans. 

Cecilia Derlon, the vice president of UNC Young Democrats, said this election is important because of the issues at stake.

“The things that he says he's going to do with reproductive rights, education, gun control — a lot of it is very personal to us as a campus,” Derlon said. 

Duvall said gubernatorial candidate Lieutenant Governor Mark Robinson, poses an unprecedented threat to North Carolina. When she mentioned Robinson’s name during her introduction for Stein at the event, the crowd booed.

Stein referenced instances where Robinson referred to homosexuality and transgender people as “filth,” expressed antisemitic ideas and said women are not called to lead.

“All of that is wrong,” Stein said. “All of it is backwards. All of it must be stopped. It is on us — it is on us to defend our home."

Duvall said the UNC Young Democrats’ mission in 2024 is voter education. She said they want all students to be prepared to vote and understand the importance of these elections. 

Samantha Cohan, a UNC sophomore who attended the rally, said one of her friends doesn’t know anything about the candidates for this upcoming year. 

“She didn't even know who Josh Stein was,” Cohan said. “So I feel like it's very important for him to come to this campus, to talk to us directly and in person and let us know what he's fighting for so people can understand how important it is to register to vote — and vote for democracy.” 

UNC Young Democrats will be in the Pit over the next few weeks, Duvall said, to help students register for early voting for the primaries. Stein also encouraged attendees to vote in the primaries on March 5 and in the general election on Nov. 5. 

“Casting a vote in North Carolina is one of the most powerful votes in the country in 2024,” Duvall said. “And our ballot has so many crucial races that can decide the future of North Carolina and the future of this country.” 

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