Updated as of 12:48 p.m. on March 29 to include data visualization.

Elon Poll published its first poll of 2025 that focused on issues within North Carolina, such as  Gov. Josh Stein’s approval rating, Hurricane Helene recovery efforts, the North Carolina Supreme Court election and concealed handgun permits. The poll found that most North Carolinians are happy with Stein’s performance as governor. 

With a sample of 800 North Carolina adults, the Elon Poll found that 44% of those polled approve of Stein’s performance as he approaches his first 100 days in office. Despite most North Carolinians polled approving of Stein, 39% are unsure about his performance and 17% disapprove. 

According to the Director of Elon Poll, Jason Husser, Stein’s approval numbers are on par with previous North Carolina governors. 

“North Carolina governors have tended to have a what’s called a honeymoon period in which they’re quite popular when they start out,” Husser said. “Pat McCrory in 2013 had 46% approval compared to 25% disapproval. Cooper was at 48% approved and 29% disapproved.”

Despite Stein’s positive approval rating 46% of adults said they are very or somewhat unsatisfied with the progress of Hurricane Helene recovery compared to 37% said they are very or somewhat satisfied with current recovery efforts.

While there is some uncertainty about Stein’s performance as governor, the amount of North Carolinians who approve of Stein was positive across all political demographics.

Even though elections were almost five months ago, the North Carolina Supreme Court is still experiencing the aftermath of the election with a contested battle between incumbent Democratic candidate Justice Allison Riggs and North Carolina Court of Appeals judge and Republican candidate Jefferson Griffin. Griffin lost to Riggs by 734 votes, however he filed a lawsuit asking for over 60,000 ballots to be invalidated. This would result in Griffin being elected to the North Carolina Supreme Court. 

Since the fallout of this race, only 8% of North Carolinian respondents said they have confidence in the North Carolina Supreme Court, 36% saying they have some confidence, 35% said they have not much or no confidence in the court and 21% are unsure. 

Neither Griffin nor Riggs responded to Elon News Network’s immediate request for comment.

The N.C. Supreme Court declined to comment on the state of the election and the lawsuit Griffin is pursuing. 

The Elon Poll also found that 54% of North Carolinians oppose specific firearm legislation presented by Republicans in North Carolina’s General Assembly. The legislation presented would remove North Carolina’s requirement for individuals to carry a permit while carrying a concealed handgun. Thirty-four percent of North Carolinians support removing the permit. 

In a statement emailed to Elon News Network, John Commerford, the executive director of the National Rifle Association’s Institute for Legislative Action, stated the NRA is working with the legislature to pass constitutional carry laws. 

“NRA has made it a priority to pass constitutional carry legislation across the country, allowing law-abiding gun owners to carry a firearm for protection without first needing permission from the government,” Commerford wrote in an email to Elon News Network. “While Senate Bill 50 is a step in the right direction to guarantee that North Carolinians can fully exercise their Second Amendment rights, we will continue our work with the legislature to ensure that every peaceable adult in the state can legally carry under the proposed law. 29 states currently have constitutional carry, and we look forward to North Carolina being number 30.”

Senate Bill 50 has now passed the North Carolina House of Representatives and was approved by the Senate last week. The bill must pass two more readings in the House and then will be sent to Stein’s desk. 

Stepping closer into the state, Elon Poll also focused on the name change of Fort Bragg, a U.S. military base in Fayetteville. 

In June 2023, a congressional mandate ordered that nine military bases, as well as installations and assets, named after Confederates be renamed. This mandate changed Fort Bragg, named after North Carolina native and Confederate Army General Braxton Bragg, into Fort Liberty. However, that changed this past February after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth signed a memorandum changing the name again to Fort Bragg after World War II Private First Class Ronald L. Bragg. 

Fifty-two percent of North Carolinians supported the name change, with strongest support coming from Republicans and older adults.