Roy Asberry Cooper III, known as Roy Cooper, has been serving as the 75th Governor of North Carolina since 2017. A member of the Democratic Party, Cooper has had a long and distinguished career in North Carolina politics. Born on June 13, 1957, Cooper has held various public offices, including serving as the 50th Attorney General of North Carolina from 2001 to 2017 and as a member of the North Carolina General Assembly in both the House and Senate.
Election and Transition to Governorship
Cooper's journey to the governorship was marked by a significant victory in the 2016 election, where he defeated Republican incumbent Pat McCrory. This win was historic, as Cooper became the first challenger to defeat a sitting governor in North Carolina's history. His transition, however, was not without challenges. The Republican-dominated legislature passed special legislation in late 2016 to reduce the power of the governor's office before Cooper took office.
Despite these challenges, Cooper was sworn in as governor on January 1, 2017, in a small ceremony due to a snowstorm. His public inauguration was canceled, but he quickly got to work on key issues. One of his early actions was requesting federal approval for Medicaid coverage expansion in North Carolina, a move that was initially halted by a federal judge but later pursued through legislative negotiations.
Key Initiatives and Achievements
During his tenure, Cooper has focused on several key initiatives. One of his major achievements was the partial repeal of the Public Facilities Privacy & Security Act, also known as House Bill 2. After lengthy negotiations with Republican state legislators, Cooper agreed to sign a law that prohibited North Carolina cities from passing local ordinances related to public accommodations or employment practices for three years in exchange for the reversal of the facilities act.
Cooper has also been a strong advocate for education and healthcare. In 2019, he proposed a $25.2 billion budget that included salary increases for public school teachers and state workers, expansion of Medicaid, and a $3.9 billion bond to fund school construction and local infrastructure projects. His efforts were facilitated by the 2018 elections, which saw the Republican Party lose seats in the General Assembly, ending their supermajorities and making it harder for them to override gubernatorial vetoes.
In addition to his domestic policies, Cooper has played a role in national and regional initiatives. He was appointed by President Donald Trump to a commission tasked with reducing opioid addiction in 2017 and was elected co-chair of the Appalachian Regional Commission in 2019, the first North Carolina governor to hold this position since Jim Hunt in 1978.
Reelection and Current Challenges
Cooper was reelected in 2020, defeating Republican nominee Dan Forest, who was the Lieutenant Governor of North Carolina at the time. His second term has continued to focus on education, healthcare, and economic development. Despite ongoing political challenges, Cooper remains committed to his policy priorities and continues to navigate the complex political landscape of North Carolina.
For more detailed information on Roy Cooper's career and policies, you can refer to his profile on Wikipedia.
