State Senator Graig Meyer (D-Orange) holds a copy of the draft budget that was not passed in the 2025 session. After 12 years in the General Assembly, Meyer will resign to become the next executive director of the N.C. Justice Center. (Photo: Brandon Kingdollar/NC Newsline)

Over the last few years, we’ve had several opportunities to chat with former state lawmaker Graig Meyer of Orange County during the four terms he served in the state House and two in the state Senate. Recently, however, Meyer decided to leave elected office to become the executive director of one of the state’s most important nonprofit advocacy organizations, the North Carolina Justice Center.

It won’t be an easy task. Meyer assumes his new role at a time in which many of the positions the Justice Center espouses – progressive tax policy, a stronger safety net, fair treatment for immigrants, tough consumer protection laws – are not in vogue at the state legislature. Nonetheless, as we learned in our most recent conversation, Meyer is energized by the new challenge and optimistic about the organization’s prospects for policy success at a time of big change at the General Assembly.

Click here to listen to the full interview with former state Senator Graig Meyer.