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RALEIGH, N.C. — The General Assembly opened its two-year session today by electing Democrat Jim Black to a record-tying fourth term as House speaker and Republican Richard Morgan to the Number 2 post.
The House voted 100-20 to elect Black to lead the chamber. Morgan was elected as speaker pro tem to create a coalition government in the chamber for the second consecutive session.
Morgan shared the speakership with Black in an historic coalition in 2003 following a 60-60 split in the chamber. This year, House Democrats took the top post because they had a 63-57 majority after the November elections.
State Republican Party chairman Ferrell Blount had urged GOP legislators to reject any power-sharing arrangement. He blames the Black-Morgan coalition for redistricting maps that favored Democrats.
Senate leader Marc Basnight of Dare County is widely expected to be re-elected to a record seventh term Wednesday. Democrats outnumber Republicans 29-21 in the chamber.
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