FLETCHER, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein has taken an unusual approach with Republican political opponents in his first eight months leading a highly competitive state where divided government has become the norm.

He's trying to get along with them.

Stein, who succeeded fellow Democrat Roy Cooper in January, has made an effort to work with the GOP-controlled General Assembly on things like storm recovery — still a top priority nearly a year since Hurricane Helene's historic flooding — and on other issues broadly popular with North Carolinians.

He's kept communication lines open with legislative leaders, even as they back President Donald Trump and oppose many Stein policy prescriptions.

The public, Stein said in an interview with The Associated Press, doesn't “care wh

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