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Roy Cooper
Roy Cooper (D) is the 75th governor of North Carolina and the state’s former Attorney General. He also served in the North Carolina General Assembly - both as a Congressman and a Senator.
Associations:
American Heart Association
Red Cross
First Presbyterian Church
Rocky Mount Jaycees
party
Democrat
jurisdiction
North Carolina
service dates
January 1, 2017 - Present
gender
Male
Personal Moments
1957
Cooper is born in Nashville, North Carolina
Roy Asberry Cooper III is born to school teacher Beverly Thorne Batchelor and farmer Roy Asberry Cooper Jr.
1975
Cooper starts university
After graduating from public high school, he received a scholarship to start his studies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
1982
Cooper obtains his law degree
His Juris Doctor is from the same university as his undergraduate degree, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
1992
Roy Cooper marries Kristin Bernhardt
The couple go on to have three daughters together.
Campaign History
1986
Elected to North Carolina House of Representatives
Cooper first entered political office in 1987 after being elected to the North Carolina House of Representatives.
1990
Elected North Carolina State Senator
He won his bid for state senate and was selected as Democratic Senate majority leader in 1997.
2000
Elected North Carolina Attorney General
Cooper wins the election 51.2 to 46.4 percent. He was re-elected three times: in 2004, 2008, and 2012.
2016
Elected Governor of North Carolina
Cooper defeats incumbent Pat McCrory by a narrow margin of just over 10,000 votes. He is re-elected in 2020.
Position on Key Issues
Children and Education
Cooper considers investing in children an important part of securing future success, and is dedicated to offering children the foundations they need to thrive later in life. He has expanded pre-kindergarten programs and raised teachers’ pay as well as invested in programs that benefit children’s (emotional) health, food security and safe housing.
Healthcare
Cooper is an avid proponent of universal access to healthcare, which he believes could also help tackle substance abuse issues. He supports efforts to expand Medicaid – ensuring coverage for more low-income families and creating more jobs in the healthcare sector.
Economic growth
Cooper believes an economy can thrive if the condition for businesses is improved, making the environment business friendly, in turn generating more good paying jobs. He has invested in expanding broadband access to rural areas – an important factor for small businesses – and set up grants for businesses looking to relocate to struggling areas.
Key Issues:
Children and Education
Healthcare
Economic growth