Roy Cooper facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Quick facts for kids Roy Cooper
Cooper in 2023

75th Governor of North Carolina
In office January 1, 2017 – January 1, 2025
Lieutenant	Dan Forest Mark Robinson
Preceded by	Pat McCrory
Succeeded by	Josh Stein
50th Attorney General of North Carolina
In office January 6, 2001 – January 1, 2017
Governor	Mike Easley Bev Perdue Pat McCrory
Preceded by	Mike Easley
Succeeded by	Josh Stein
Majority Leader of the North Carolina Senate
In office July 17, 1997 – January 1, 2001
Preceded by	Richard Conder
Succeeded by	Tony Rand
Member of the North Carolina Senate from the 10th district
In office February 21, 1991 – January 1, 2001
Preceded by	Jim Ezzell
Succeeded by	A. B. Swindell
Member of the North Carolina House of Representatives from the 72nd district
In office February 9, 1987 – February 21, 1991
Preceded by	Allen Barbee
Succeeded by	Edward McGee

Personal details
Born	Roy Asberry Cooper III (1957-06-13) June 13, 1957 (age 68) Nashville, North Carolina, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Kristin Bernhardt (m. 1992)
Children	3
Education	University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill (BA, JD)
Signature

Roy Asberry Cooper III (born June 13, 1957) is an American politician and lawyer. He served as the 75th Governor of North Carolina from 2017 to 2025. Before becoming governor, he was the 50th Attorney General of North Carolina from 2001 to 2017. He also served in the North Carolina General Assembly, which is the state's lawmaking body, from 1987 to 2001.

Cooper graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1979. He started his career as a lawyer. In 1986, he was elected to the North Carolina House of Representatives. In 1991, he became a member of the North Carolina Senate, where he served until 2001. He was elected North Carolina Attorney General in 2000 and won reelection three more times. He held this job for almost 16 years, which is the longest time anyone has served as attorney general in North Carolina's history.

In 2016, Cooper ran for governor and won against the Republican governor, Pat McCrory. This was a big deal because he was the first person to defeat a sitting governor in North Carolina. He was reelected in 2020. Even though the state legislature tried to reduce the governor's power before he took office, Cooper worked to increase funding for education and healthcare. A major success was expanding Medicaid, which helps more people get health insurance.

Top - 0-9 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Roy Cooper's Early Life and Education

Roy Asberry Cooper III was born in Nashville, North Carolina, on June 13, 1957. His mother, Beverly Thorne, was a teacher, and his father, Roy Asberry Cooper II, was a lawyer and a political advisor. Roy Cooper grew up working on his parents' tobacco farm during the summer.

He went to public schools and graduated from Northern Nash High School in 1975. While in high school, he was chosen to represent Nash County in the Youth Legislative Assembly.

College and Law School

Cooper received a special scholarship called the Morehead Scholarship to attend the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. During college, he was president of the university's Young Democrats club. He then went on to earn a law degree from the University of North Carolina School of Law in 1982. A law degree is called a Juris Doctor (JD).

Roy Cooper's Early Career in Law and Politics

While still in law school, Governor Jim Hunt appointed Cooper to an advisory group called the State Goals and Policy Board. This group helped set goals for the state. Cooper was the youngest person ever to serve on this board.

In 1982, Cooper joined a law firm in Nashville, North Carolina, where his father had also worked. Three years later, he became a partner in the firm.

Serving in the State Legislature

Cooper as a state senator

In 1985, Cooper decided to run for the North Carolina House of Representatives. He won the election and started serving in 1987. While in the House, he continued to work as a lawyer. He was known as a very effective new representative.

In 1991, a state senator passed away, and Cooper was appointed to fill his spot in the North Carolina Senate. He served in the Senate until 2001. During his time there, he helped pass laws that:

Made it harder for minors to bring guns to school.
Made public records easier to access.
Strengthened laws about public meetings.
Gave the governor more power to reject bills (called "veto power").

In 1997, he became the Majority Leader of the Senate, which is an important leadership role.

Roy Cooper as North Carolina Attorney General

Becoming Attorney General

In 2000, Roy Cooper decided to run for North Carolina Attorney General. The Attorney General is the state's chief legal officer, like the main lawyer for the state government. He won the election and took office on January 6, 2001. He was reelected three more times in 2004, 2008, and 2012. He served for almost 16 years, which is the longest time anyone has held that position in North Carolina.

Key Actions as Attorney General

Helping Students: In 2001, Cooper helped create new programs to mentor and tutor middle and high school students who were suspended from school.
Investigating Wrongdoing: In 2007, his office took over a difficult case involving the Duke lacrosse team. After finding that the prosecutor had hidden evidence, Cooper dismissed the case and declared the players "innocent." This decision was praised by many.
School Safety: After a tragic school shooting in 2007, Cooper created a task force to study school shootings and suggest ways to prevent them. This led to a law requiring certain mental health records to be added to a gun permit database.
Reviewing Old Cases: In 2010, Cooper ordered a review of cases handled by the State Bureau of Investigation's forensic lab. This happened after it was found that some officials had hidden important information, which led to people being wrongly convicted. His audit helped uncover many cases that needed to be re-examined.
Supreme Court Case: In 2011, Cooper argued his first case before the United States Supreme Court. The case was about the rights of young people during police questioning.

Roy Cooper as Governor of North Carolina

Winning the Governor's Race

Cooper campaigning in October 2016

In 2016, Cooper ran for Governor of North Carolina against the current governor, Pat McCrory. A controversial law called "House Bill 2" had been passed, which caused many businesses to stop investing in the state. Cooper spoke out against this law.

The election was very close, but Cooper won by a small number of votes. He became the first person in North Carolina's history to defeat a sitting governor. He was reelected for a second term in 2020.

Starting His Term as Governor

Cooper being sworn in as governor of North Carolina

Roy Cooper became governor on January 1, 2017. Before he took office, the state legislature passed some laws to reduce the governor's power. However, Cooper continued to focus on his goals.

One of his first actions was to ask for federal approval to expand Medicaid coverage in North Carolina. This program helps provide health insurance to low-income people. After many years of effort, Cooper signed a law in March 2023 that finally expanded Medicaid in the state, making over 600,000 more North Carolinians eligible.

Important Laws and Actions as Governor

Driver Education: Cooper signed a bill that added lessons to driver's education about what to do when pulled over by law enforcement.
School Bus Safety: In 2017, he signed a bill to put cameras on school buses to catch drivers who illegally pass stopped buses.
COVID-19 Response: In 2020, Cooper created a task force to prepare North Carolina for the COVID-19 pandemic. He declared a state of emergency, banned large gatherings, closed schools, and later required face masks in public places to help slow the spread of the virus.
Budget and Vetoes: During his first two years, the legislature often had enough votes to override his vetoes (meaning they could pass a bill even if he rejected it). However, after the 2018 elections, the legislature lost some seats, giving Cooper more power to negotiate and prevent bills he disagreed with from becoming law. He proposed budgets that included pay raises for teachers and state workers and funding for Medicaid expansion.

Governor Cooper giving a speech in Tyrrell County, March 2023

Leaving Office

Roy Cooper's term as governor ended on January 1, 2025. On December 31, 2024, his last day in office, he changed the sentences of 15 inmates who were on North Carolina's death row. Josh Stein became the new governor after him.

Roy Cooper's Personal Life

Roy Cooper and his family at a campaign rally, November 2016

Roy Cooper is married to Kristin Cooper, who worked to help foster children. They have three daughters, all of whom also graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Cooper has taught Sunday school and is a big fan of the NHL hockey team, the Carolina Hurricanes. He has also accepted a teaching position at Harvard University.

How to Say His Last Name

In 2023, Roy Cooper shared that his last name, "Cooper," is actually pronounced with the "oo" sound like in "foot," not like the "oo" in "moon," which is how most people say it. He explained that the "foot" pronunciation is common in Eastern North Carolina, where he grew up. He said he is fine with people using either pronunciation.

Images for kids

Attorney General Roy Cooper (second from the left) standing behind President Barack Obama as he delivers a speech, February 2012
Cooper and former U.S. Representative Tim Valentine in August 2014
Governor Cooper, Lieutenant Governor Dan Forest and Senator Thom Tillis meet with President Donald Trump, September 2018
Cooper walking with U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg in 2023