State Freedom Score

North Carolina

#22 of 50

Results pendingafter 2026 · projected

Who holds power now

Results pending

After the 2026 midterms · projected, not yet certified

Governor: Josh Stein (D)
U.S. Senate: Roy Cooper (D)FlippedTed Budd (R)
State Senate: Not yet called
State House: DemocraticFlipped

Changed hands in 2026: U.S. Senate seat (R → D), State House (R → D). The score of 68 reflects the laws on North Carolina’s books today. It moves only when they change.

Still being counted: State Senate.

Sources: gubernatorial elections · Senate elections · state legislative elections

The breakdown

Taxes76
#13 of 50 on the Tax Foundation's 2026 index
Second Amendment25
Permit required to carry concealed
School choice100
Every student eligible for school choice
Cost of living69
Prices 6% below the U.S. average
Jobs70
Jobs +1.3% in a year · 3.5% unemployed

How it voted for president

In betweenTrump +3.2 in 2024

The certified 2024 result: the longer-run lean, beside the 2026 picture above. Neither is part of the score: who wins an election doesn’t change a state’s freedom until its laws change.

Also worth knowing (not scored)

Where people are moving: Population +7.2% since 2020
Faith community: 30% attend worship weekly

Coming soon

Know when North Carolina changes

New laws, bills and votes that move your freedom, without wading through the news. Pick what to watch:

Places worth the drive in North Carolina Ready to make a move? Find your best fit

How the State Freedom Score works

Five things, weighted equally: taxes, the Second Amendment, school choice, cost of living and jobs. Each is scored 0-100 between the best and worst real state, so a 100 is the best in the country. Permitless carry and universal school choice are yes-or-no laws, scored 100 or 25.

Who holds power is not part of the score. Control after the 2026 midterms (projected until certified) and the 2024 presidential result are shown beside it, so a change in who wins never moves the score until the laws change too.