Stein, Cooper praise late Gov. Jim Hunt as ‘visionary,’ ‘greatest’ in NC history
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- Former Gov. Jim Hunt died at 88; state leaders issued immediate public condolences.
- Former Gov. Roy Cooper praised Hunt as North Carolina’s greatest governor and mentor.
- Gov. Josh Stein called Hunt a visionary, citing Smart Start and higher teacher pay.
Former Gov. Jim Hunt, a giant in 20th century North Carolina politics, has died, Lt. Gov. Rachel Hunt, his daughter, said Thursday.
Hunt, a Democrat credited with shaping decades of public education policy, was 88.
Condolences and praise for the four-term governor came immediately, first from the office’s current occupant, Democratic Gov. Josh Stein, who called him “a visionary.”
“I can think of no one who shaped North Carolina’s recent successes as much as Governor Jim Hunt,” Stein said in a statement.
“Governor for 16 years, he was a visionary who founded Smart Start, raised teacher pay, protected air quality, and created the NC Biotech Center,” Stein said about Hunt’s accomplishments.
“On a personal level, he was a mentor and dear friend. Anna and I are keeping Carolyn, Rachel, and the entire Hunt family in our thoughts and prayers. May Governor Hunt’s memory be a blessing. He certainly was for North Carolina,” Stein said.
Stein won election in 2024.
‘Keen political talent,’ Bill Clinton says
Former President Bill Clinton weighed in on social media about Hunt, who served his third and fourth terms during the Clinton administration. He said Hunt was “an exceptional governor, a keen political talent, and most importantly, a kind, smart, and dedicated public servant. I’ll miss him very much.”
Dennis Wicker, who served as lieutenant governor during the same period, issued a statement saying Hunt was “a trusted friend and an extraordinary public servant.”
“Jim listened carefully, welcomed honest disagreement, and never lost sight of who government was meant to serve,” Wicker said.
Former Gov. Roy Cooper calls Gov. Jim Hunt ‘the greatest’ in history
Former Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper, who served two terms as governor through 2024, also praised Hunt.
“Not only was he the greatest governor in North Carolina history, he brought a caring and committed purpose to everything he did, especially our children and our schools,” Cooper said in a statement.
“I don’t know anyone who worked harder and had a greater positive effect on the people of North Carolina than Jim Hunt. He was a great friend and mentor and I will miss him,” he said.
U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis praises Hunt as ‘one of the most consequential’ public servants
“Susan and I are deeply saddened by the passing of Governor Jim Hunt, who was one of the most consequential public servants in North Carolina’s history,” U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis, a Republican and former state House speaker, said Thursday.
“His commitment to public education and economic development made a profound impact on our state that continues to this day. We send our deepest condolences to his loving family,” Tillis said in a statement.
The Hunt Institute celebrates its namesake
Jim Hunt founded the Hunt Institute after leaving office to help state leaders make informed decisions about education policy. It is now an affiliate of the Duke University Sanford School of Public Policy and works with policymakers across the country.
In a statement Thursday, the Institute praised Hunt for his work to reshape ”the state’s education landscape—championing early childhood education through the creation of Smart Start, elevating teaching as a profession, and insisting that education policy be grounded in research, evidence, and long-term vision and outcomes rather than politics.” The institute “remains deeply committed” to Hunt’s work.
“North Carolina and our nation have lost a giant,” said Dr. Javaid Siddiqi, president and CEO of The Hunt Institute, in the statement. “But his legacy lives on in every policy shaped by research, every teacher supported, and every student whose future is strengthened by education.”
Senate Democratic leader Batch ‘heartbroken’
“Like so many North Carolinians, I was heartbroken to learn of the passing of Governor Jim Hunt, one of the greatest public servants to ever serve the state of North Carolina,” said Senate Democratic Leader Sydney Batch of Wake County.
“As the longest-serving governor in our state’s history, Governor Hunt wasn’t just a historic figure, he was a leader who truly believed in the people of this state and dedicated his life to making North Carolina a place where everyone could thrive,” Batch said in a statement.
She went on to praise his “unwavering commitment to early childhood education, strong public schools, and rural economic development,” crediting him with changing the “trajectory of countless lives and set a standard for what compassionate, selfless and forward-looking leadership can achieve.”
A funeral service will take place at 1 p.m. Dec. 26 at First Presbyterian Church of Wilson, with a reception afterward at the church, Rachel Hunt said. She said the public is welcome.
This story was originally published December 18, 2025 at 5:24 PM with the headline "Stein, Cooper praise late Gov. Jim Hunt as ‘visionary,’ ‘greatest’ in NC history."
