Holshouser joined with Hunt and former governor Terry Sanford in 1977 in supporting the amending of the North Carolina Constitution to allow gubernatorial succession. He decided against pursuing reelection to the governorship, later explaining, "[My wife and I] were very, very tired by the end of 1976. And we were ready for a break from politics, ready to sort of get out of the limelight and back in the private sector because I never really anticipated a political career." Out of office he served on several steering and advisory committees for Republican gubernatorial and senatorial candidates. In 1984 he campaigned for James G. Martin's election as governor and two years later he led a group, Citizens for a Conservative Court, which sought to block James G. Exum's election as Chief Justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court. He also served as Gardner's legislative liaison while the latter was lieutenant governor. In 1997 he and Sanford opened a law firm together. He served on Pat McCrory's political transition team after the latter was elected governor.
