⬇️ Josh’s Journal ⬇️
November 26, 2025

Josh’s Thanksgiving Message

Happy Thanksgiving, John!

This is one of my favorite holidays, not for the food and the football (though I enjoy those, too), but because it affords family and friends the chance to come together and be grateful for one another — and for all the blessings of this life.

For myself, I have much to be thankful for. My wonderful family, for the opportunity to help make this state better, and for those of you who stand with me in the work.

I am deeply grateful. Thank you.

However you’re celebrating tomorrow, I hope you are able to enjoy this holiday and give thanks in whatever way is meaningful to you.

With my regards and best wishes for the season,

Josh Stein

Honoring Our Veterans

North Carolina is proud to be home to more than 600,000 veterans — one of the highest veteran populations in the country. Josh honored our veterans earlier this month, but he knows that’s not enough. Our veterans need real results on the issues affecting them and their families.

Josh is committed to making sure our veterans have access to the support, services, and opportunities they deserve. That’s why he is a strong advocate for NCServes, the first coordinated care system for veterans and their families in the country, which is now offering extended hours for care.

Erasing Medical Debt

Josh’s administration recently announced that our state has already surpassed the Medical Debt Relief Program’s initial financial projections and erased more than $6.5 billion in medical debt for more than 2.5 million North Carolinians. This is big.

Here’s what Josh had to say:

“Medical debt is a tremendous weight keeping so many families from financial security, and, unlike most other forms of debt, it’s not a choice. Today’s announcement will free people from financial stress so they can focus on getting healthy. I thank Governor Roy Cooper, DHHS Secretary Kody Kinsley, and the hospitals that partnered with the State of North Carolina to make this life-changing news possible. I urge the General Assembly to keep this momentum going by coming back to the table and fully funding Medicaid.”

Urging the Legislature to Fully Fund Medicaid

Josh continues to work tirelessly to get the legislature to fully fund Medicaid like they promised, because he knows how important it is for North Carolinians to be able to access the health care they need. He is grateful to Democratic legislative leaders for supporting this critical funding.

SIGN ON: Join Josh and call on Republican lawmakers to stop playing games and fund Medicaid like they promised >>>

Surging Aid to Food Banks

Amidst the federal government shutdown, SNAP recipients and others in North Carolina faced unexpected hardship. Food banks stepped in to help fill the gap for struggling families, and Josh worked to direct increased state and private funds to our state’s food banks, totaling nearly $22 million. He was grateful for the opportunity to volunteer at MANNA Food Bank and Food Bank of Central and Eastern NC earlier this month.

If it fits in your budget, please consider making a donation to MANNA, Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina, or another food bank of your choice this holiday season.

Answering the Tough Questions… About Dinosaurs 🦖

When the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences and NC State University announced the identification of a new species of dinosaur (named Nanotyrannus), they invited Josh to join their press conference with kid reporters who asked the hard-hitting questions you need to hear! Watch below 👇