Cooper for President
Roy Cooper could be just what the Democratic Party will need in 2028.
A progressive with a Southern accent.
A proven winner in a swing state.
A two-term governor who leaves office even more popular than when he took office.
A successful leader who – despite a gerrymandered Republican legislature – won healthcare for 600,000 North Carolinians.
A savvy politician who battled right-wing extremists on bathroom bills, private-school vouchers vs. public schools and abortion bans vs. women’s reproductive rights.
Cooper left the door open to a presidential race in The New York Times today: “Asked in an interview if he was weighing bids for Senate or for president, he said ‘it’s hard for me to believe’ that he would not want to seek public office again.”
Cooper has a good sense of timing: when to make a move in politics – and when not to.
In his first race for office, in 1986, he challenged a state House incumbent – and won.
In his second term, he was part of a rebellion that ousted a long-time Speaker.
In 1994, a bad Democratic year, he passed on what would have been a doomed race for Congress.
He served ably and studiously as attorney general for four terms – and wisely passed on running for governor in 2008 and 2012.
In 2016, he did something unprecedented in North Carolina: unseat an incumbent governor.
In 2016 and 2020, he won even though Donald Trump carried the state.
In 2024, he passed on a chance to be on a national ticket that lost.
He has never lost an election.
Somebody will say, “he’s not dynamic enough.”
They said that in 2016. But Cooper has made himself a strong speaker; he was the final speaker before Kamala Harris at the 2024 national convention, and he got the crowd roaring.
After four more years of Trump, Americans may want a quiet, thoughtful President – a man of honesty, dignity and decency.
Democrats across America are scrambling to understand what went wrong in 2024 and squabbling over what to do now.
The best answer to our problems is to nominate a winner.
Run, Roy, run.
Photo: The News & Observer
Cooper for President
Roy Cooper could be just what the Democratic Party will need in 2028.
A progressive with a Southern accent.
A proven winner in a swing state.
A two-term governor who leaves office even more popular than when he took office.
A successful leader who – despite a gerrymandered Republican legislature – won healthcare for 600,000 North Carolinians.
A savvy politician who battled right-wing extremists on bathroom bills, private-school vouchers vs. public schools and abortion bans vs. women’s reproductive rights.
Cooper left the door open to a presidential race in The New York Times today: “Asked in an interview if he was weighing bids for Senate or for president, he said ‘it’s hard for me to believe’ that he would not want to seek public office again.”
Cooper has a good sense of timing: when to make a move in politics – and when not to.
In his first race for office, in 1986, he challenged a state House incumbent – and won.
In his second term, he was part of a rebellion that ousted a long-time Speaker.
In 1994, a bad Democratic year, he passed on what would have been a doomed race for Congress.
He served ably and studiously as attorney general for four terms – and wisely passed on running for governor in 2008 and 2012.
In 2016, he did something unprecedented in North Carolina: unseat an incumbent governor.
In 2016 and 2020, he won even though Donald Trump carried the state.
In 2024, he passed on a chance to be on a national ticket that lost.
He has never lost an election.
Somebody will say, “he’s not dynamic enough.”
They said that in 2016. But Cooper has made himself a strong speaker; he was the final speaker before Kamala Harris at the 2024 national convention, and he got the crowd roaring.
After four more years of Trump, Americans may want a quiet, thoughtful President – a man of honesty, dignity and decency.
Democrats across America are scrambling to understand what went wrong in 2024 and squabbling over what to do now.
The best answer to our problems is to nominate a winner.
Run, Roy, run.
Photo: The News & Observer