North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein was elected governor on Tuesday, defeating Republican Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson and maintaining Democratic leadership of the chief executive's office in a state where Republicans have recently controlled the legislature and appeals courts.

Stein thanked voters for the win.

"Tonight the people of North Carolina embraced a vision that's optimistic, forward-looking and welcoming," Stein said. "A vision that's about creating opportunity for every North Carolinian. We chose hope over hate, competence over chaos, decency over division. That's who we are as North Carolinians."

Stein, a Harvard-trained lawyer, former state senator and the state's chief law enforcement officer since 2017, will succeed fellow Democrat Roy Cooper, who was term-limited from seeking reelection. He will be the state's first Jewish governor.