Hackney to run for House minority leader
Outgoing House Speaker Joe Hackney says he'll run for the post of minority leader in the wake of legislative losses that will flip control to the Republicans.
Posted — Updated“Next year, we must cooperate with the new Republican majority when their direction is good for North Carolina,” Hackney, D-Orange, said in a statement. “But we must vigorously oppose them when they seek to move North Carolina in the wrong direction, such as when they act to erode the quality of our public education, or our excellent business climate.”
It wasn't immediately clear when the House Democrats would meet to elect their officers. The minority leader expresses the Democratic viewpoint during floor debate and raises money for legislative campaigns.
The 65-year-old Hackney was elected speaker in 2007 and again in 2009. He has served in the legislature since 1981.
Republicans and a GOP-leaning independent will have at least 68 of the chamber's 120 seats come January. Democrats had 68 seats the past two years.
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