Kamala Harris' VP shortlist just got a little shorter.
North Carolina governor Roy Cooper (D) is bowing out of the race. In a statement on X, he said now is not the "right time" to enter national politics.
Cooper reached out to Harris' team last Monday, the day after Biden dropped out, to say he wasn't interested, the New York Times reported.
The governor expressed concern about Lt. Governor Mark Robinson, a Republican, becoming active governor if he stepped down. Robinson is the Republican candidate in the race to replace Cooper, who is term limited.
Cooper may have his eyes on the Senate, with Republican Thom Tillis' seat up for grabs in 2026. In any case, he's clearly not gunning for VP.
"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. This just wasn't the right time for North Carolina and for me to potentially be on a national ticket," he wrote on X.
"As l'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," he added.
The top candidates for Harris' running mate are all white men from swing states, as Harris, a racially mixed woman, tries to broaden her appeal.
Cooper was elected governor in 2016 and won re-election in 2020, even as Donald Trump won the state in both years' presidential elections.
Some of the other names are Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear, Arizona Senator Mark Kelly, and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg.
Cooper, Buttigieg, and Walz all joined a "White Dudes for Harris" Zoom call Monday, where they lavished praise on the vice president. Cooper rejected the notion that Harris is a "DEI candidate."
“Here’s what they’re saying, that women and people of color don’t deserve to lead," Cooper said. "We know better than that, guys.”
Harris has quickly rallied Democrats behind her after Joe Biden's shocking decision to forgo re-election.
She is expected to name a running mate before August 7, which is the deadline for Democrats to nominate her in a virtual roll call ahead of the party's convention in Chicago.
