North Carolina Democrats troll GOP governor, force him to appoint top LGBT advocate to legislature

North Carolina's Republican Gov. Pat McCrory

Gov. Pat McCrory and North Carolina Republicans have reaped monumental blowback from pushing HB2, an anti-LGBT law that overturned anti-discrimination ordinances across the state under the guise of preventing transgender people from using the bathroom corresponding with their gender identity. Companies like PayPal have terminated expansions worth hundreds of jobs, and Bruce Springsteen canceled a concert this past week in protest. The public relations cost to the state has been incalcuable.

Unfortunately, Democrats are powerless to repeal this law legislatively any time soon thanks to Republican gerrymandering, but that didn’t stop them from trolling McCrory in epic fashion. Ralph Johnson, a state representative from Greensboro, died last month, and North Carolina law requires the governor to name a replacement chosen by local party officials to fill out Johnson’s term. Guilford County Democrats used the opportunity to express their disgust over HB2 by forcing McCrory to appoint Chris Sgro, who serves as the executive director Equality NC, the state’s top LGBT rights advocacy group.

Progressives are making it crystal clear that they intend to make McCrory face serious consequences for signing HB2. This November, Democrats have a great shot to beat Gov. McCrory for re-election and make an example of the price elected officials can pay when they enshrine discrimination into law.