"Roy Asberry Cooper III, the 75th governor of North Carolina, has had a long and distinguished career in law and politics. A Democrat, he served as North Carolina's attorney general from 2001 to 2017. Prior to that, he was a member of the North Carolina General Assembly, serving in both the House of Representatives and Senate from 1987 to 2001."
June 13, 1957: Birth of Roy Cooper
Roy Asberry Cooper III was born on June 13, 1957.
1975: Graduation from Northern Nash High School
Roy Cooper graduated from Northern Nash High School in 1975.
1976: Roy Cooper II co-chairs Jim Hunt's gubernatorial campaign
Roy Cooper's father, Roy Cooper II, co-chaired Jim Hunt's gubernatorial campaign in 1976.
1978: Appalachian Regional Commission Co-Chair (Not in Provided Date Format)
Cooper's election as Appalachian Regional Commission co-chair marked the first time a North Carolina governor held the position since Jim Hunt in 1978.
1979: Graduation from UNC Chapel Hill
Roy Cooper graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1979.
1982: Graduation from UNC School of Law
Roy Cooper earned his Juris Doctor degree from the University of North Carolina School of Law in 1982.
1982: Joining Fields, Cooper & Henderson Law Firm
Roy Cooper joined the law firm Fields, Cooper & Henderson in Nashville, North Carolina in 1982.
1984: Chairman for Lauch Faircloth's Gubernatorial Campaign
Roy Cooper served as the Rocky Mount and Nash County chairman for Lauch Faircloth's unsuccessful gubernatorial campaign in 1984.
November 19, 1985: Filing for Candidacy in the North Carolina House of Representatives
On November 19, 1985, Roy Cooper filed to run for the North Carolina House of Representatives in the 72nd district.
1986: Election to the North Carolina House of Representatives
In 1986, Roy Cooper was elected to represent the 72nd district in the North Carolina House of Representatives.
1989: Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee and Involvement in Speaker Unsuccessful Removal
In 1989, Roy Cooper became the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee and joined a bipartisan effort to unseat Speaker Liston B. Ramsey.
February 1991: Appointment to the Senate to Serve Remainder of Jim Ezzell's Term
Roy Cooper was appointed to the Senate in February 1991 to serve the remainder of Jim Ezzell's term after Ezzell's death.
1991: Appointment to the North Carolina Senate
Roy Cooper was appointed as a member of the North Carolina Senate in 1991.
1995: Negotiation of a Compromise Bill for Gubernatorial Veto Power
In 1995, Roy Cooper negotiated a compromise bill to schedule a referendum to amend the constitution and grant the governor veto power.
1997: Election as Majority Leader of the Senate
Roy Cooper was elected Majority leader of the Senate in 1997 following Richard Conder's resignation.
January 10, 2000: Filing for North Carolina Attorney General
Roy Cooper filed to run for North Carolina attorney general on January 10, 2000.
2000: Speeding Citation Cover-Up During James Ferguson's Campaign
During James Ferguson's 2000 U.S. House campaign, the North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles was accused of covering up a speeding citation issued for Ferguson.
2000: First Election as North Carolina Attorney General
Roy Cooper was elected as the North Carolina Attorney General in 2000.
2000: Appointment to the North Carolina 2000 Commission
Roy Cooper was appointed to the North Carolina 2000 Commission.
January 6, 2001: Start of First Term as North Carolina Attorney General
Roy Cooper took office as North Carolina Attorney General on January 6, 2001.
2001: Initiation of Legislation for Mentoring and Tutoring Programs
In 2001, Roy Cooper initiated legislation that established new mentoring and tutoring programs for middle and high school students on short-term suspension.
2001: Beginning of Tenure as North Carolina Attorney General
Roy Cooper served as the North Carolina Attorney General from 2001 to 2017.
June 2002: End of Term on North Carolina Bar Association's Board of Governors
Roy Cooper served on the North Carolina Bar Association's Board of Governors until June 2002.
2002: Controversy Surrounding Speeding Citation Cover-Up
In 2002, a controversy arose after the North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles was accused of covering up a speeding citation issued for Democratic U.S. House candidate James Ferguson during the 2000 campaign.
2004: Re-election as North Carolina Attorney General
Roy Cooper was re-elected as the North Carolina Attorney General in 2004.
2004: Re-election as North Carolina Attorney General
Roy Cooper was re-elected as the North Carolina Attorney General in 2004.
January 2007: Taking Over the Duke Lacrosse Case
Roy Cooper's office assumed responsibility for the Duke lacrosse case in January 2007 after Durham District Attorney Mike Nifong's recusal.
April 11, 2007: Dismissal of the Duke Lacrosse Case
On April 11, 2007, Roy Cooper dismissed the case against the Duke lacrosse team players, declaring them "innocent" and victims of a "tragic rush to accuse".
2007: Creation of the Campus Safety Task Force
Roy Cooper created the Campus Safety Task Force after the 2007 Virginia Tech shooting.
January 2008: Campus Safety Task Force Report Delivery
The Campus Safety Task Force, created by Roy Cooper, delivered its report on school shootings in January 2008.
2008: Re-election as North Carolina Attorney General
Roy Cooper was re-elected as the North Carolina Attorney General in 2008.
2008: Re-election as North Carolina Attorney General
Roy Cooper was re-elected as the North Carolina Attorney General in 2008.
2008: Declining to Run for Governor of North Carolina
Roy Cooper declined to run for Governor of North Carolina.
2009: Public Policy Polling Survey Shows Lead Over Richard Burr
A 2009 Public Policy Polling survey showed Roy Cooper leading incumbent U.S. Senator Richard Burr by four points.
2010: Gregory Taylor Exoneration and State Bureau of Investigation Audit
In 2010, after Gregory Taylor's exoneration in the murder of Jaquetta Thomas, Cooper ordered an audit of the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation forensic lab. The audit revealed a history of evidence suppression that had impacted numerous cases, including Taylor's.
2010: Declining to Run for the U.S. Senate
Roy Cooper declined to run for the U.S. Senate.
2011: J. D. B. v. North Carolina Supreme Court Case
In 2011, Cooper argued his first case before the United States Supreme Court, J. D. B. v. North Carolina, concerning Miranda rights in juvenile cases. The Court ruled against North Carolina.
2012: Declining to Run for Governor of North Carolina
Roy Cooper declined to run for Governor of North Carolina.
2012: Running Unopposed for North Carolina Attorney General
Roy Cooper ran unopposed for a fourth term as North Carolina Attorney General in 2012.
2012: Re-election as North Carolina Attorney General
Roy Cooper was re-elected as the North Carolina Attorney General in 2012.
2014: Dan River Coal Ash Spill and Political Disputes
Following the 2014 Dan River coal ash spill, Cooper criticized Duke Energy, leading to accusations of politicization from then-Governor Pat McCrory. McCrory's claims that Cooper hindered cleanup efforts were disputed.
March 2016: North Carolina Gubernatorial Election and House Bill 2 Controversy
During his 2016 gubernatorial campaign, Cooper condemned the controversial "House Bill 2", which sparked boycotts and led to accusations against his opponent, McCrory.
2016: Post-Election Power Struggle and Public Facilities Privacy & Security Act Repeal Attempts
Following Cooper's victory in the 2016 election, the Republican-led General Assembly took steps to curb the governor's power. Cooper's efforts to repeal the controversial "House Bill 2" were unsuccessful.
2016: Election as Governor of North Carolina
Roy Cooper was elected as the Governor of North Carolina in 2016 after defeating incumbent Pat McCrory.
January 1, 2017: Cooper Sworn In as Governor
On January 1, 2017, Roy Cooper was sworn in as the Governor of North Carolina in a scaled-down ceremony due to a snowstorm.
January 6, 2017: Medicaid Expansion Request and Focus on Repealing House Bill 2
Early in his term, Cooper sought federal approval for Medicaid expansion in North Carolina, a request temporarily blocked by a judge. He also prioritized repealing the controversial "House Bill 2".
March 22, 2017: Veto of Partisan Election Bill Overridden
Cooper's first veto as governor, aimed at preventing the shift to partisan elections for certain courts, was overridden by the legislature.
April 21, 2017: Vetoes on Court Size and Election Board Overridden
The legislature overruled Cooper's vetoes on both a bill reducing the size of the North Carolina Court of Appeals and a bill restructuring the State Board of Elections.
May 9, 2017: Appointment to Opioid Addiction Commission
On May 9, 2017, President Donald Trump appointed Cooper to a commission tasked with addressing the opioid addiction crisis.
June 7, 2017: Call for Special Redistricting Session and Legislative Conflicts
In response to a Supreme Court ruling on North Carolina's legislative maps, Cooper called for a special redistricting session, which the legislature dismissed.
July 2017: Veto of Nonprofit "Game Nights" Bill
In July 2017, Cooper vetoed a bill permitting nonprofit organizations to host "game nights", citing concerns about potential loopholes for the video poker industry.
July 26, 2017: School Bus Safety Bill Signed
On July 26, 2017, Cooper signed a bill into law that aimed to improve school bus safety by requiring cameras to be installed on buses.
August 31, 2017: State of Emergency Declared Over Gas Supply Shortage
Cooper declared a state of emergency on August 31, 2017, in response to a gas supply crisis, later lifting it on September 18.
December 2018: Cooper Vetoes Bill and Faces Legislature Override
In December 2018, Roy Cooper vetoed a bill passed by the North Carolina General Assembly concerning new primary elections in the 9th district. His veto, based on a provision that increased the opacity of campaign finance investigations, was overridden by the legislature. This was part of a larger pattern during his first two years in office, during which 23 of his 28 vetoes were overturned. However, the outcome of the 2018 legislative elections resulted in the Republicans losing their supermajority, shifting the balance of power in favor of Cooper and the Democrats.
March 6, 2019: Budget Proposal and Legislative Shifts
On March 6, 2019, Cooper put forward a $25.2 billion budget proposal encompassing teacher and state worker raises, Medicaid expansion, and a bond for school construction and infrastructure. This followed the 2018 elections which saw the Republicans lose their supermajority in the General Assembly.
May 2019: Cooper Vetoes Bill on Post-Abortion Care
In May 2019, Roy Cooper vetoed a bill that would have imposed punishments, including prison sentences and fines, on physicians and nurses who didn't resuscitate newborns that survived abortions. Cooper stated his reasoning for the veto, saying the bill unnecessarily interfered with the doctor-patient relationship and highlighted existing laws that already provided protections for newborns.
December 5, 2019: Cooper Announces Reelection Bid
On December 5, 2019, Cooper officially announced his candidacy for reelection as Governor of North Carolina.
February 11, 2020: Establishment of Novel Coronavirus Task Force
Anticipating the COVID-19 pandemic, Cooper established a Novel Coronavirus Task Force for North Carolina on February 11, 2020.
2020: Re-election as Governor of North Carolina
Roy Cooper was re-elected as the Governor of North Carolina in 2020, defeating Republican nominee Dan Forest.
March 2021: Decision Against Running for US Senate
In March 2021, Cooper announced he would not pursue the US Senate seat to be vacated by retiring Republican Richard Burr in 2022.
March 27, 2023: Medicaid Expansion Legislation Signed
Cooper achieved a significant legislative victory on March 27, 2023, when he signed into law a bill expanding Medicaid in North Carolina, a move projected to benefit over 600,000 low-income residents.