When North Carolinians elected Gov. Josh Stein last fall by a wide margin over former Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, they made clear they wanted to put a check on GOP lawmakers’ ambitions to take the state down extreme right-wing paths.

And in recent days, to his great credit, Stein has validated the trust that voters placed in him by vetoing a series of extreme and ill-conceived bills.

As the governor made clear in rejecting bills that would, among other things, roll back environmental protections and raise residential electric bills, invest new and unprecedented powers in the state auditor, effectively deregulate charter schools, and enact a virtually incoherent ban on diversity, equity and inclusion in state government, Republican lawmakers have lost their way.

The bottom line: At a time when teachers, law enforcement, and state employees need pay raises and people need shorter lines at the DMV, Stein observed, the legislature needs to get to work and pass a budget and stop wasting time with divisive culture war bills.

And the voters said: Amen.

For NC Newsline, I’m Rob Schofield.