After 8 years leading North Carolina, Gov. Roy Cooper bids farewell, touts accomplishments
ROCKY MOUNT, N.C. (WTVD) -- "During my time as governor, we've seen the fruits of that innovative spirit through Medicaid expansion, medical debt relief, a boom in the clean energy economy, massive connections to high-speed Internet, investments in our education, and so much more," said Gov. Cooper.
Cooper spoke for about 25 minutes inside Nash County Community College, the site where he launched his gubernatorial campaign in 2015.
"It's great to come home and be here with my extended family. The people here in my beloved Nash County and Rocky Mount," said Cooper, a Nashville native.
Cooper has served in public office since 1987, spending time in both the state House and state Senate, four terms in the Attorney General's Office, and consecutive terms as Governor.
"For the last eight years, getting to lead the state I love so much has been an extraordinary privilege. Challenging, humbling, and the best job I've ever had.
WATCH Roy Cooper's full farewell address
His remarks were a mix of personal stories, and highlights of the administration's accomplishments, and vision.
"I wanted to build in North Carolina, where people are better educated and healthier with more money in their pockets, and the opportunity to live a life of purpose and abundance," Cooper said.
He referenced his mother, a public school teacher, as he discussed grants and teacher pay raises while expressing disappointment over recent legislation that expanded access and funding to Opportunity Scholarships.
"Right-wing extremists and for-profit schools have peddled a false narrative that our public schools are failing," said Cooper.
House Bill 10 became law after a veto override, a tactic employed by Republicans often over Cooper's final two years in office. However, it was Medicaid Expansion, which ultimately earned bipartisan support, that will be Cooper's crowning achievement.
"We expanded Medicaid for them and their families. And today, just over one year after the program went live and half the time that we thought it would take, we have enrolled more than 600,000 North Carolinians in quality health care already," said Cooper.
In the crowd were rows of supporters, staffers - both present and former - family, and friends. He was introduced by former Chief of Staff Kristi Jones, who said she was first introduced to the Governor through a friend who was going to work for him.
SEE ALSO | Gov. Roy Cooper reflects on nearly 40 years in NC politics as term winds down, ponders US Senate run
WATCH Full 17 minutes Interview
"We went to lunch, and it was just something that drew me to him that made me believe how authentic he was and that he really wanted to help people. We all get in government to help people, and I felt like I could join him and help him accomplish that mission. And we did," said Jones.
Cooper, whose name has been floated for a possible Senate run in 2026, did not explicitly state what his future holds, though made it clear he had plans in place.
"We're not done. I'm not done," said Cooper.
In a statement to ABC 11, NCGOP spokesperson Matt Mercer was critical of Cooper's tenure, taking issue with his administration's handling of disaster relief, education, and crime.
"Roy Cooper's place in North Carolina history is secure: he is the most inconsequential governor. There has not been a governor who has had less of his agenda enacted and North Carolina has succeeded in spite of his leadership failures."
Just last week, Gov. Cooper sat down for a one-on-one with ABC11's Steve Daniels to reflect on his 40 years in NC politics.
"It's been an extraordinary honor and privilege," Cooper said. "I've taken it seriously every single day and I've worked to make North Carolina better. I'm grateful for the people having given me that opportunity."
During that interview, Cooper also acknowledged he may launch a campaign to become the Democratic nominee in the U.S. Senate race in 2026 when Sen. Thom Tillis is up for reelection.
"Everything right now is on the table," Cooper said. "I'm going to examine that after a few months from leaving office. I'm going to look at that as one of many potentials that I could do."
SEE ALSO | North Carolina governor honors Hurricanes' Rod Brind'Amour
