North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper has chosen not to pursue being a candidate in Vice President Kamala Harris’ search for a running mate, citing concerns about his Republican lieutenant governor assuming control in his absence if he was chosen for the role. Cooper withdrew before Harris officially began requesting vetting information from potential VP candidates. The search process is still ongoing, with lawyers and political aides reviewing details on a reduced list of potential contenders.
Initially considering around a dozen potential candidates, Harris’ team has now narrowed their focus, with Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro and Arizona Senator Mark Kelly emerging as top contenders. Cooper emphasized that the timing wasn’t right for North Carolina and himself to potentially be on a national ticket and expressed confidence in Harris’ ability to select the right candidate.
Cooper, a former chair of the Democratic Governors Association, shares a history with Harris, having both served as state attorneys general. His potential selection was viewed as advantageous in potentially shifting North Carolina into Democratic hands. However, concerns over the state constitution, which would see Lt. Governor Mark Robinson, a GOP nominee, assume gubernatorial powers in Cooper’s absence, influenced Cooper’s decision.
Robinson’s conservative views on topics such as abortion, gender roles, and LGBTQ rights have raised apprehensions about the impact of his governance should he temporarily step into Cooper’s role. Cooper has appeared beside Harris in campaign events prior to President Joe Biden’s withdrawal from the race, refraining from discussing the vetting process publicly and expressing his trust in Harris’ decision-making.
Although The New York Times initially reported Cooper’s withdrawal from the VP candidate selection process, specifics regarding the timing and rationale behind his decision were not provided. The Harris campaign has chosen not to comment on the matter.
