governor

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

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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.

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Position on Key Issues

charter schools
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.

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Key Issues:

Children and Education

Healthcare

Economic growth