Cooper withdraws from consideration as Harris’s running mate

North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper (D) has withdrawn from consideration as Vice President Harris’s running mate in the November election, he said Monday.

“I strongly support Vice President Harris’ campaign for President. I know she’s going to win and I was honored to be considered for this role,” Cooper said in a statement. 

“This just wasn’t the right time for North Carolina and for me to potentially be on a national ticket,” he continued. “As I’ve said from the beginning, she has an outstanding list of people from which to choose, and we’ll all work to make sure she wins.”

Cooper’s decision narrows the list of Democrats being considered to join Harris on the ticket ahead of an Aug. 7 deadline for her to name her running mate.

The New York Times first reported on Cooper’s decision.

Others still being vetted include Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro (D), Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly (D), Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D) and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg.

Cooper was among the several Democrats being vetted as Harris and her campaign narrow in on a running mate. The case for the governor centered on his ability to win election in a swing state, the state’s passage of Medicaid expansion under his leadership and his experience as an attorney general.

But some Democrats worried about the state’s law that would have made Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson (R), who has made headlines for incendiary comments, the acting governor whenever Cooper left the state. Additionally, Cooper, 67, is older than Harris, though he is younger than former President Trump, the GOP nominee.