North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper has decided to step back from consideration as Vice President Kamala Harris’s potential running mate for the upcoming election.
The governor announced his decision in a statement posted on X, following a report by The New York Times on Monday evening which revealed that Cooper had notified Harris’ team of his withdrawal.
Initially, the reasons behind his decision were unclear, but Cooper stated in a Monday evening release that it “wasn’t the right time for North Carolina and for me.”
“I fully support Vice President Harris’ campaign for President,” Cooper’s statement continued. “I believe she will emerge victorious, and I was privileged to be considered for this position.”
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North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper is reportedly no longer in contention to be Vice President Kamala Harris’s running mate. (Getty Images)
“This simply wasn’t the right moment for both North Carolina and me to consider a position on a national ticket,” added the North Carolina Democrat. “As I have expressed from the outset, she has an excellent pool of candidates to choose from, and we will all work to ensure her success.”
In recent days, Cooper had emerged as a leading candidate among those considered for Harris’s running mate. Following President Joe Biden’s withdrawal from the race, Harris’s campaign sent vetting information to Cooper, as reported by the Wall Street Journal.
Others reportedly receiving vetting materials include Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, and Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz.
Mitch Kokai, a senior political analyst at the John Locke Foundation, told Fox News Digital earlier on Monday that Cooper was viewed as “a solid fit” for Harris.
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North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper reportedly withdrew from consideration to be VP Kamala Harris’ running mate. (ALLISON JOYCE/AFP via Getty Images)
Kokai explained that Democrats are likely to see Roy Cooper as an excellent choice for Kamala Harris for several reasons. “First and foremost, Cooper brings North Carolina’s 16 electoral votes into the equation in a manner that other candidates do not,” he said.
“He has successfully won six statewide elections since the year 2000. This is a significant achievement for a Democrat in a state that has increasingly leaned conservative during that time.”
The political analyst referred to Cooper as “the Democrats’ brightest star in North Carolina in recent years.”
“Cooper provides a distinct demographic contrast to Harris and displays a calm and composed demeanor, which could help alleviate some of the criticisms Harris has faced regarding her interactions with the media and the public,” Kokai added.
US Vice President Kamala Harris speaks during a campaign event at Westover High School in Fayetteville, North Carolina, on July 18, 2024. (ALLISON JOYCE/AFP via Getty Images)
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Fox News Digital has reached out to both Cooper’s office and the Harris campaign for their statements.
Fox News Digital’s Audrey Conklin and Michael Lee contributed to this report.
