North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper has withdrawn from consideration as Vice President Kamala Harris's potential running mate in the upcoming presidential election, according to reports from The New York Times and CNN. This development, reported on Monday evening, aligns with a Bloomberg story earlier that day which indicated Harris's team had narrowed their focus to three potential candidates: Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, and Arizona Senator Mark Kelly.
Cooper confirmed his withdrawal in a post on the social media platform X. Despite this, he participated in a virtual fundraiser for the "White Dudes for Harris" group, where he criticized MAGA Republicans for their disrespect towards women, particularly highlighting controversial statements made by North Carolina's Lieutenant Governor Mark Robinson.
Cooper had been considered a strong contender for the VP slot due to his popularity as a Democratic governor in a traditionally Republican-leaning swing state. His longstanding relationship with Harris and his term-limited status were seen as advantages. However, his age (67) and the peculiarities of North Carolina's gubernatorial succession law were noted as potential drawbacks.
The next steps in Harris's VP selection process remain unclear, with other potential candidates like Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear who still might be in the mix.
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