What to know about Roy Cooper, the North Carolina governor who could be Harris' VP

Following President Joe Biden’s bombshell announcement on Sunday that he would not be running for reelection and instead endorsed his running mate, Kamala Harris, she’s collected key endorsements, over $100 million in donations and support from delegates. With her frontrunner status secured, the focus is now on her potential running mate for the Democratic ticket in November.

By Tuesday, the Harris campaign had requested vetting materials from at least seven Democrats under consideration to be her vice president, according to earlier reporting by USA TODAY.

On the list: North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper, who, like Harris, is a former state attorney general.

More: Harris' VP options: From Josh Shapiro to Mark Kelly, sizing up the slate's pros and cons

Who is Roy Cooper?

Cooper, 67, was elected governor of the Tar Heel state in 2016, and his current term ends in 2025. He served in the North Carolina House of Representatives from 1987 to 1991 and in the State Senate from 1991 to 2001. Cooper was first elected North Carolina attorney general in 2000 and won reelection three times before running for governor.

As the Democratic leader of North Carolina, Cooper represents a battleground state the Biden-Harris campaign was targeting before the president dropped out of the 2024 race. His time in office has been marked by partisan fighting and compromise with the state legislature.

Cooper oversaw an expansion of the state’s Medicaid program and repealed its “bathroom bill,” which required transgender people to use bathrooms based on their birth certificate rather than their identity. In 2023, North Carolina’s Republican lawmakers overrode his veto to pass a ban on most abortions after 12 weeks.

Will Harris select Cooper for VP?

Cooper endorsed Harris the same day Biden ended his reelection bid, and she announced her campaign. He acknowledged their longstanding relationship, which dates back to when they both served as state attorney generals.

“She has what it takes to defeat Donald Trump and lead our country thoughtfully and with integrity,” Cooper said in a post on X, formerly Twitter. “I look forward to campaigning with her as we work to win NC up and down the ticket.”

In addition to Cooper, other potential VP names in the mix include Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, U.S. Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, and Cedric Richmond, a former congressman from Louisiana who served as a top aide in the Biden White House and on his campaign.

The Harris campaign on Wednesday said any reporting on developments or updates in Vice President Harris’ running mate search is “premature and speculative.”

Rachel Barber is a 2024 election fellow at USA TODAY, focusing on politics and education. Follow her on X, formerly Twitter, at @rachelbarber_

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Gov. Roy Cooper on the shortlist for Harris' VP? Meet the potential pick