North Carolina Rep. Destin Hall (R-Caldwell) speaks with reporters at the legislative building on Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2024. Hall was elected by his Republican colleagues as the next Speaker of the House. (Photo: Galen Bacharier/NC Newsline)

Members of the North Carolina House Republican caucus voted to nominate Rep. Destin Hall (R-Caldwell) to serve at the chamber’s next Speaker in the session that will convene in January. Republicans will enjoy a 71-49 majority in January, so the nomination makes Hall’s election a foregone conclusion. Hall, who has spent four terms in the House, will succeed long-serving Speaker Tim Moore, who was elected to Congress in November.

“My intent is to continue to do what you’ve seen Republicans do now in 14 years in the state,” said Hall in a brief press conference following the vote. “You’ve seen us cut taxes, session after session. And you’re going to see us work with the Trump administration, do all we can to lower inflation in North Carolina.”

Hall pledged that topping the list of priorities was a focus on public safety, starting with a veto override vote on House Bill 10, that would dramatically expand the state’s private school voucher program and require North Carolina sheriffs to cooperate with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents.

Hall said the closed-door caucus vote was by acclimation and not contested. Having served previously as the House Rules Committee chairman may have given him a leg up.

“It’s kind of like being Speaker on training wheels,” Hall quipped.

Asked about the latest hurricane relief package that strips powers away from the governor’s office, Hall suggested it was justified.

“I’m fully committed to doing everything that we can to rebuild western North Carolina. But as we heard yesterday in one of the oversight committees, the reality is what we’ve been doing as a state — and I’ll lay this blame at the foot of the executive branch — has not been sufficient.”

Hall said the victims of Hurricanes Matthew and Florence are still waiting on ReBuild NC to complete their homes eight years after the disaster struck.

“We heard yesterday in committee, the director of that group submitting that mistakes were made, yet refusing to resign. And so we’re going to fix that.”

Hall did not elaborate on the numerous election law changes and changes to other Council of State offices that were also packed into the bill.

As for the ability of Republicans to work with North Carolina’s newly elected Democratic governor, Hall offered this.

“Voters at the state have elected both sides in the executive branch and legislative branch. And so, we’ll try to come to compromises where we can. But I can tell you that at the end of the day, you know, we have a recipe for success from North Carolina that’s tried and tested.”