Rep. Chuck Edwards, a Republican from North Carolina, criticized the state's Democratic Governor Josh Stein for not participating in the Great American State Fair in Washington, D.C. Edwards accused Stein of prioritizing partisanship over patriotism by declining to sponsor a booth for North Carolina, despite the state's explanation that budget constraints were the reason for the decision. Edwards expressed disappointment, stating that many North Carolinians would have liked to see representation at the event, which celebrates America's 250th birthday.
The North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources cited fiscal issues for the decision to not participate in the 16-day fair, which runs until July 10. The spokesperson mentioned that resources are focused on America 250 events within North Carolina, including one at the State Capitol in Raleigh on July 4. Edwards, however, dismissed the budget concerns as a political statement.
Other Democratic governors, including Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania and Tina Kotek of Oregon, also opted out of the fair, citing concerns about its partisan nature. Despite the boycott, private sponsors funded a North Carolina booth, which faced controversy due to the inclusion of Confederate flags that were later removed by fair organizers. Governor Stein criticized the display, stating that it did not represent the values of North Carolina and emphasized that America 250 is about unity.