One of the top candidates under consideration to be Kamala Harris’ vice-presidential running mate has interestingly dropped out of the running, just weeks before the Democratic selection is set to be finalized.
Gov. Roy Cooper of North Carolina recently dropped off the list of potential vice president candidates almost as suddenly as Harris jumped into the presidential slot of the ongoing campaign. The sitting vice president rose to the endorsement of President Joe Biden, who announced on July 21 that he was suspending his re-election efforts and promoting Harris to take his place.
Biden’s historic decision to drop off the ticket followed a disastrous debate performance which left him facing calls from both Democrats and Republicans to reconsider his presidential bid.
On July 29, Cooper confirmed that he was no longer a candidate for vice president in the upcoming election. He said that although he was “honored” to have been on the shortlist, it was not “the right time” for either him or his state to have him campaigning for a national election. Cooper left the ring prior to the start of the vetting process and declined to present requisite material to Harris, according to sources.
The governor would apparently have been faced with a difficult situation had he continued with the process. North Carolina’s constitution dictates that Mark Robinson, the current lieutenant governor and Republican nominee to replace Cooper, would act in the governor’s place when he is out of state.
The Democratic leader previously shared concern that his GOP rival would act unsatisfactorily if he were traveling for long periods of time on a campaign trail. However, Cooper’s worries were countered by legal expert opinion that Robinson would not go as far as assuming his power or implementing executive orders in his absence.
Harris—who is rumored to have been intentionally serving alongside Biden and undermining his inability to adequately fulfill his role—has yet to be officially nominated as the Democratic presidential candidate. The party’s national convention will occur in less than a month, presumably granting Harris the nomination.
Other governors on her running mate shortlist include Gretchen Whitmer (Michigan), Josh Shapiro (Pennsylvania), Andy Beshear (Kentucky), J.B. Pritzker (Illinois), and Gavin Newsom (California).
