Gov. Roy Cooper’s job firing up crowds for the Democratic presidential ticket this year would appear to be at odds with the subdued demeanor of a longtime North Carolina office holder not given to verbal flourishes.
He got audiences going in a call-and-response, with the crowd shouting “No” when Cooper asked if they wanted a second Donald Trump term.
Cooper’s measured responses to questions Monday morning on whether he would consider becoming Vice President Kamala Harris’ running mate now that President Joe Biden has dropped out of the race was the Cooper that North Carolinians are much more used to hearing.
“I appreciate people talking about me, but I think the focus right now needs to be on her this week,” Cooper said on MSNBC’s Morning Joe. “She needs to concentrate on making sure that she secures this nomination and gets this campaign ready to go.”
Advertisement
After Biden bowed out on Sunday, Cooper thanked Biden, calling him “among our nation’s finest presidents,” on X, formerly Twitter, and endorsed Harris.
Cooper, 67, is serving his second term as governor and cannot run for a third. Even before Biden announced Sunday he was leaving the race, there was speculation about a role for Cooper in the second term of a Biden administration.
Cooper’s steady climb through North Carolina’s political ranks and his position as a Democratic governor in a swing state has pundits measuring his potential as Harris’ running mate. US Sen. Mark Kelly of Arizona, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, and Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear are also mentioned as potential vice presidential candidates who could join Harris on the ticket.
Keeping healthcare and public schools in the forefront
Introducing Biden and Harris at North Carolina rallies gave Cooper a chance to tout Medicaid expansion in North Carolina, a premier accomplishment of his administration. He announced at a news conference this month that more than 500,000 residents had enrolled in the expanded program. At campaign rallies, he paints the image of Trump ripping a health insurance card out of someone’s hand.
Cooper started fighting for Medicaid expansion even before he officially took office after defeating one-term Republican Pat McCrory in 2016. Leading Republicans in the legislature dismissed all calls for Medicaid expansion for years. Cooper kept health care and Medicaid expansion at the forefront, even though the state was not able to offer more people health insurance under Medicaid expansion without the GOP-controlled legislature’s approval.
Advertisement
Republicans reconsidered after the American Rescue Plan Biden signed in 2021 included financial incentives for states that had not yet expanded Medicaidunder the Affordable Care Act. Vice President Kamala Harris appeared comfortable with Gov. Cooper (right) as they spoke at an event in Durham. (Photo: White House stream)
Republicans put Medicaid expansion in the budget they passed last year. Cooper allowed the budget to become law without his signaturebecause it included Medicaid expansion — even though it was stuffed with items he did not want such as an expansion of private school vouchers.
Cooper has repeatedly denounced private school vouchers and built his education agenda on increasing spending on public education and teacher raises. But his tenure as governor in large part has been shaped by issues involving health, health insurance, and disputes with Republicans in the legislature over policy priorities.
Tested by the COVID pandemic
The 2020 campaign for governor revolved largely around his responses to the COVID-19 pandemic. Cooper clashed with Republican legislators over health-related business closures and the duration of public school closures.
Republican Lt. Gov. Dan Forest challenged Cooper with a campaign that leaned heavily on lifting COVID restrictions and opening public schools. Forest sued over some of Cooper’s COVID executive orders, but was shut down in court. Forest went on to lose the governor’s race to Cooper by more than four percentage points.
Advertisement
Bar owners had more success challenging Cooper’s COVID rules. They sued over Cooper’s decision to keep bars closed while allowing restaurants to open with capacity limits a few months into the pandemic. The state Court of Appeals ruled last April that Cooper had violated bar owners’ rights.
Nationally, North Carolina’s handling of the pandemic was praised by the Biden administration. Biden appointed Dr. Mandy Cohen, who was Cooper’s first Health and Human Services secretary, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
A weak office needed a negotiator
The governor’s office in North Carolina was designed to be weak. North Carolina governors don’t have a line-item veto and cannot veto redistricting bills.
Republicans have controlled the legislature for Cooper’s entire tenure as governor. In the years Republicans did not have supermajorities in the House and Senate — and were not able to override his vetoes — Cooper was able to push for negotiations on issues and stifle bills he opposed.
Convincing Democrats to uphold his vetoes meant Cooper “was able to participate in the discussion,” said state Senate Democratic leader Dan Blue of Raleigh.
Advertisement
Cooper had “a profound impact on where the state was going,” Blue said. “He moderated the Republicans’ hardline positions on multiple occasions.”
Cooper’s supporters note that he has never lost a race from the time he won a House seat in 1986 after beating a 12-term Democratic incumbent. Cooper repeatedly won statewide office while Democratic presidential candidates most often fell short. The last Democratic presidential candidate to win North Carolina was Barack Obama in 2008.
Cooper grew up on a tobacco farm in Nash County. His mother was a teacher and his father a lawyer.
He attended UNC Chapel Hill on a Morehead Scholarship and received his law degree from UNC.
He is a devoted fan of the UNC Tar Heels and Carolina Hurricanes NHL team.
Advertisement
A Charlotte Observer article from 1988 described Cooper as a “star of the legislative basketball team” who kept a low profile in his first term.
“I would like to serve between three and five terms in the legislature,” the article quotes Cooper saying. “During that time I would have been able to make an impact and accomplish things I want to accomplish.
“And 15 years from now I think I could look to some other office or make a living practicing law.”
After a stint in the state House, Cooper was appointed to a Senate seat in 1991, where he rose to become the chamber’s Majority Leader.
He won the first of four successful races for state Attorney General in 2000.
Advertisement
He rejected calls to run for governor in 2008, and resisted a push for him to challenge incumbent Republican U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Dole that year.
North Carolina Democrats are wondering whether Cooper’s career ladder leads to the vice presidency.
After they voted to endorse Harris for president on Sunday, state party chair Anderson Clayton reported that North Carolina delegates to the Democratic National Convention “are enthusiastically supportive of Gov. Cooper becoming the nominee for our vice president as well.”
The North Carolina Tar Heels have yet another new look to their roster heading into the 2026 season. Another offseason with 50 new additions, including roughly 30 true freshmen, makes the Tar Heels’ roster incredibly young, with a mix of veterans and transfers with inexperience on both sides of the ball.
As head coach Bill Belichick heads into his second season leading the program, the pressure is on to add more wins, and they’ll need some key players and transfers to step up and become major contributors early and throughout the season. Let’s look at some potential X-factors for North Carolina football heading into the summer break.
Sep 13, 2025; Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA; Wisconsin wide receiver Trech Kekahuna (2) runs the ball and is pursued by Alabama defensive lineman James Smith (23) at Saban Field at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary Cosby-USA TODAY Network via Imagn Images | Gary Cosby-USA TODAY Network via Imagn Images
A dynamic pass-catcher from Wisconsin, Kekahuna has a chance to become a fascinating asset for offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino. Kekahuna is incredibly versatile, with quickness, speed, and vision as a ball carrier, allowing him to create yards in space through traffic. His presence on the field will be one to watch this season, making him an important offensive factor.
Advertisement
Defensive X-Factor — Jaylen Harvey, Edge Rusher
Penn State Nittany Lions defensive end Jaylen Harvey (44) tackles Purdue Boilermakers running back Devin Mockobee (45) Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, during the NCAA football game at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette, Ind. Penn State Nittany Lions won 49-10. | Alex Martin/Journal and Courier / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Advertisement
We’ve talked a lot about Harvey in recent weeks as a potential key contributor to the Tar Heels’ pass rush this season. The explosiveness and speed off the edge flashed at times during his time at Penn State, including against Clemson in the Pinstripe Bowl this past season. If Harvey puts it together at Chapel Hill, he becomes a serious X-factor for Steve Belichick’s defense.
Offensive X-Factor — Jordan Washington, Tight End
Advertisement
Sep 20, 2025; Austin, Texas, USA; Texas Longhorns tight end Jordan Washington (84) reacts after scoring a touchdown during the first half against the Sam Houston Bearkats at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott Wachter-Imagn Images | Scott Wachter-Imagn Images
Advertisement
Jelani Thurman is the tight end I’m higher on in this room the most, but Washington’s size and athleticism make him an intriguing No. 2 option behind Thurman, who should be projected as the presumptive starter heading into the summer.
Washington has solid hands and movement skills to be a productive contributor, and if he puts it together, he quickly becomes an underrated aspect of the Tar Heels’ offense under Petrino.
Advertisement
Defensive X-Factor — Coleman Bryson, Safety
Dec 29, 2022; Bronx, NY, USA; Minnesota Golden Gophers defensive back Coleman Bryson (16) is interviewed after being awarded the MVP trophy after defeating the Syracuse Orange the 2022 Pinstripe Bowl at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images | Brad Penner-Imagn Images
The safety spot for North Carolina has a mixture of veteran presence and talent with Bryson and Greg Smith. The biggest question in this room is whether or not these two players reach their potential as backend playmakers in the Tar Heels’ secondary.
Bryson was the MVP of the Pinstripe Bowl with Minnesota a few years ago as a freshman. The talent and athleticism are there for him to become an impact contributor. If he puts it together, the veteran safety quickly becomes an X-factor in North Carolina’s secondary.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Drew Burress became Georgia Tech’s career leader in home runs, Alex Hernandez drove in four runs, and the Yellow Jackets defeated North Carolina 13-6 on Saturday to claim the ACC Baseball Championship for the 10th time.
The top-seeded and third-ranked Yellow Jackets won the tournament for the first time since 2014.
Burress led off the bottom of the third inning with his 58th career home run. The blast to left field set the tone for a five-run inning that also featured Hernandez’s three-run double.
North Carolina got two back in the fourth inning on a two-out single by Rom Kellis V and two more in the fifth on a home run by Owen Hull.
Advertisement
Things got wild in the sixth inning when North Carolina scored an unearned run in the top half and Georgia Tech added three runs on three wild pitches by Matthew Matthijs in the bottom half, building an 11-6 lead.
Hernandez had three hits, four RBIs and a run scored and Burress had three hits, scored twice and drove in two runs for the Yellow Jackets (48-9). Vahn Lackey had three hits, scored twice and drove in a run.
Hull had two hits, scored twice and drove in three runs for the Tar Heels (45-11-1).
Georgia Tech used six pitchers, with the win going to Caden Gaudette (6-1), who shut down North Carolina’s fifth-inning rally.
North Carolina’s Folger Boaz (3-3) allowed six runs, all earned, in 2 2/3 innings.
Advertisement
Second-seeded and No. 2 ranked North Carolina has nine ACC tournament championships and was the defending champion.
Up next
The NCAA Tournament field will be announced on Monday. Both teams are tournament regulars, with North Carolina having made 37 previous appearances and Georgia Tech 36.
RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — If you’ve been “hiss-terically” startled by central North Carolina snakes slithering across sidewalks, curling up near creeks, or making surprise appearances in backyards this week, experts say you’re not imagining things.
Thanks to our months-long drought, snakes are becoming a lot more “viper-active” across the Triangle — outdoors as well as indoors this weekend at the Repticon expo in Raleigh.
Cold-blooded creatures were caught on camera up close and personal as people took pictures of the stars of the show at Repticon.
And for some people and the snakes themselves, it was a little too close for comfort.
Advertisement
“They’re either going to fight or flight,” snake lover Emily Pantoja said. “So, if you’re too close and they feel threatened, they could strike or they’ll rattle their tail to warn you. But most of the time, snakes are going to give you so many warnings before they strike you.”
Large snake removed from Greensboro car (Hannah Sprague/WGHP)
Rattlers and boas and ball pythons — oh my!
“They are a huge benefit to us,” reptile expert and Repticon vendor Kyle Smith said. “They kill rodents, which takes down the pest population, the flea and tick population.”
And while snakes at the expo are safely confined, experts say many people across central North Carolina are seeing more of the slitherers out in the wild and in neighborhoods — not looking for trouble, but simply trying to survive during the ongoing drought.
A snake that emerged from under the hood of a moving car in North Carolina in 2021.
“Snakes are like you and I, they want a good water source, they kind of migrate out to try to find better water,” said CBS 17 Meteorologist Matthew Huddleston. “Also, their natural prey is attracted to water sources. So, they’re trying to find them, too. So, as things have stayed dry over the past month plus, they have slowly, surely migrated out. But as things get wetter once again, they’ll likely start going back to creeks, rivers, and things like that.”
Wildlife officials say copperheads, rat snakes, king snakes, and water snakes are among the species most commonly spotted in the Triangle this time of year.
Advertisement
A snake was seen hugging the stonework of the exterior of the McDonald’s in the Heritage area of Wake Forest on a Saturday night in 2016
“We provide captive-bred quality reptiles,” Smith said.
Meanwhile, during Repticon at the North Carolina State Fairgrounds, Memorial Day Weekend, the massive, family-friendly traveling expo brings together show animals, including lizards, amphibians, and just about every reptile imaginable from around the world.
Repticon breeders, educators, and enthusiasts participate in expert seminars and host live encounters with the creatures for visitors to safely interact with them and perhaps even purchase one or more of the exotic pets.
“We do New Caledonian geckos, Australian species of geckos and skinks, ball pythons and hard-nosed snakes,” Smith added.
The event organizers hope Repticon helps people separate snake facts from snake fiction.
Advertisement
Experts say most snakes in North Carolina are nonvenomous and avoid humans whenever possible.
“So, if you see a snake outside most of the time, just leave it alone. It’s going to go and do its own thing. It doesn’t want to interact with you. It doesn’t want to hurt you. It’s not going to chase you. It’s not going to bite you,” Smith explained. “They want to do their own thing and go the opposite direction of you.”
Still, wildlife officers recommend you watch your step, avoiding tall grass, and never attempting to handle unfamiliar snakes.
Because one wrong move could leave you in very serious condition.
“Usually that’s what happens with copperheads, which is why so many copperhead bites happen,” Pantoja pointed out.
Advertisement
In North Carolina, it’s illegal to kill, harm, or harass certain snake species that are listed as endangered, threatened, or of special concern.
Doing so can result in a class 2 misdemeanor, fines, and jail time.
Repticon continues on Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Protected Snakes in NC
MORE FROM CBS 17
WAKE COUNTY NEWS
Advertisement
The following snakes are fully protected under state law and cannot be harmed or relocated without an endangered species permit:
Non-Venomous: Southern Hognose Snake, Pine Snake, Carolina Water Snake, Outer Banks Kingsnake, and Smooth Green Snake.
Unprotected Snakes
Any snake species not included on the protected list is largely unprotected. While you can legally kill common non-venomous snakes (like garter or rat snakes) or unprotected venomous snakes (like copperheads) if they pose an imminent threat to human health or safety, wildlife officials strongly advise against it. Most snake bites happen when people attempt to kill or corner the animal.
