Who is Roy Cooper? Meet one of the six top names on Harris’s VP short list

Gov. Roy Cooper (D-NC) is among the top names being floated as a running mate for Vice President Kamala Harris if she secures the Democratic presidential nomination.

The North Carolina governor, whose political career spans decades, has never lost an election in the battleground state and has received relatively strong job approval ratings during his time as governor.

He’s also a longtime friend of Harris, dating back to when the two were both attorneys general of their respective states.

Cooper endorsed Harris in a post on X on Sunday evening, saying the vice president “has what it takes to defeat Donald Trump.”

Here are a few things to know about the North Carolina Democrat.

Age

Cooper was born on June 13, 1957. He is 67 years old.

Hometown

Cooper was born and raised in Nash County, North Carolina. He lives in Raleigh, where the Executive Mansion is located.

Education

Cooper earned his undergraduate and law degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Time in office

Cooper has served as the 75th governor of North Carolina since 2017. Because North Carolina law prohibits governors from serving more than two consecutive four-year terms, he is not eligible to run for office again in November. 

Career

Before being elected governor, Cooper served as North Carolina’s attorney general for nearly 16 years. He previously served in the state Senate from 1991 to 2001, where he was majority leader his final 3 1/2 years, and the state House from 1987 to 1991. He practiced law prior to his time as a lawmaker too.

Religion

Cooper is a member of the Presbyterian Church. He has taught Sunday school and served as an elder and deacon in his church.

Family

Cooper is married to fellow attorney Kristin Cooper. They have three daughters: Hilary, Natalie, and Claire.

Major policy initiatives

Cooper’s power has largely been limited by a Republican-controlled state legislature during his time in office. 

Still, he expanded Medicaid last year to hundreds of thousands of North Carolina residents, a move praised by President Joe Biden.

He lists public education as one of his top priorities and signed legislation authorizing pay raises for teachers earlier this month.

Cooper also vetoed legislation banning nearly all abortions after 12 weeks of gestation, but his veto was overridden by state lawmakers.

Comments on vice presidential candidacy

When asked on MSNBC’s Morning Joe about being Harris’s running mate, Cooper said, “I appreciate people talking about me, but I think the focus right now needs to be on [Harris] this week.”

“The vice presidential conversation needs to occur later,” he added. “I want to make sure that Kamala Harris wins. I’m going to work for her all over this country and do what I can to make sure we stop Donald Trump. And that’s what I’m concentrating on right now.”