Unemployed workers, tax cuts and school choice were topics of contention Wednesday night as incumbent Democrat Gov. Roy Cooper and Republican Lt. Gov. Dan Forest met in Raleigh for the first and only gubernatorial debate.

Cooper’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic was at the forefront of the debate. Forest criticized Cooper for not fully reopening schools during the health crisis.

Recommended Stories

Governor moves North Carolina to reopening phase 2.5

Lieutenant governor plans to sue Cooper over COVID-19 restrictions

North Carolina starts fiscal year without budget