Current Governor of North Carolina: Roy Cooper (Democrat)

As of 2024, the Governor of North Carolina is Roy Cooper, a Democrat serving his second term.

Tenure

• First elected: November 2016 (defeated incumbent Pat McCrory)
• Re-elected: November 2020 (defeated Dan Forest)
• Term expires: January 2025 (term-limited — cannot run again)

Background

• Born: June 13, 1957, Nashville, NC
• Education: UNC-Chapel Hill (BA, JD)
• Prior offices: NC State Representative (1987–1991), State Senator (1991–2001), Attorney General (2001–2017)

Key Policy Areas

• Medicaid Expansion: Achieved 2023 (after years of GOP legislature opposition) — covers 600K+ low-income adults
• Education: Teacher pay raises, early childhood, community college funding
• Economy: Business recruitment (Apple, Toyota, VinFast), rural broadband
• Environment: Executive Order 80 (2018) — 40% GHG reduction by 2025, zero-emission vehicles
• COVID-19: Mask mandates, vaccine rollout — clashed with GOP legislature
• Veto Power: Used extensively; legislature overrides frequent (supermajority 2023–)

2024 Succession

Primary candidates (March 2024 primaries):

• Democrat: Josh Stein (Attorney General)
• Republican: Mark Robinson (Lt. Governor), Dale Folwell (Treasurer), others

General election: November 5, 2024. North Carolina is a competitive swing state.