WASHINGTON, D.C. — North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper opted not to be a candidate in Vice President Kamala Harris’ running mate search, he announced just after midnight Tuesday, in part because of concerns that his Republican lieutenant governor would assume control when he travels out of state if he were selected.
Cooper explained his decision in a post on X in explaining his decision.
“I strongly support Vice President Harris’ campaign for President. I know she’s going to win and I was honored to be considered for this role. This just wasn’t the right time for North Carolina and for me to potentially be on a national ticket,” Cooper wrote. “As I’ve said from the beginning, she has an outstanding list of people from which to choose, and we’ll all work to make sure she wins.”
Cooper, 67, withdrew before Harris formally began soliciting vetting material from potential vice presidents, according to The Associated Press. They spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the sensitive search process. Harris’ search is ongoing, and her teams of lawyers and political aides are still reviewing information on a narrowing list of potential candidates.
Cooper, the former chairman of the Democratic Governors Association, has been close to Harris since they were both state attorneys general. His potential selection was seen as a possible asset in shifting North Carolina — the Democrats’ only significant opportunity to expand on their 2020 map — into Harris’ hands.
Under the state constitution, Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, who is the GOP’s nominee to replace the term-limited Cooper, becomes acting governor and can assume the Democrat’s powers when he travels out of state.
Cooper, according to one of the people, has expressed concern about what Robinson might do if he were to leave the state extensively for campaign travel.
The Harris campaign declined to comment.
