Roy Cooper

**Roy Asberry Cooper III** ( ; born June 13, 1957) is an American attorney and politician. He was the 75th governor of North Carolina from 2017 to 2025. Before becoming governor, he served as the 50th attorney general of North Carolina from 2001 to 2017. Cooper also served in the North Carolina General Assembly, in both the House from 1987 to 1991, and in the North Carolina Senate from 1991 to 2001.

## Early life

Roy Asberry Cooper III was born in Nashville, North Carolina, on June 13, 1957, to Beverly Thorne () (1929–2013), a teacher and Roy Asberry Cooper II (1927–2015), a lawyer. Cooper went to public schools and worked on his parents' tobacco farm during summers.

Cooper graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1979.

## Political career

He began his career as a lawyer and in 1986 was elected to represent the 72nd district in the North Carolina House of Representatives. In 1991, he was appointed a member of the North Carolina Senate and served the position until 2001. He was elected North Carolina Attorney General in 2000 and reelected in 2004, 2008, and 2012, serving just under 16 years, the second-longest tenure for an attorney general in the state's history.

Cooper defeated Republican incumbent Pat McCrory for the governorship in a close race in the 2016 election. This election made Cooper the first challenger to beat a sitting governor since 1850. Cooper was reelected in 2020 against the Republican nominee, Lieutenant Governor Dan Forest.

The Republican-dominated legislature passed bills in a special session to reduce the power of the governor's office before he took office. Cooper continued to emphasize increases in education and healthcare funding throughout his term and saw successful negotiations of statewide Medicaid expansion.

In July 2025, Cooper announced his candidacy for the U.S. Senate in the 2026 election to replace retiring Republican Senator Thom Tillis.

## Personal life

Cooper is married to Kristin Bernhardt. They have three daughters.

## Other websites

- Governor Roy Cooper official government website
- Roy Cooper for Governor campaign website

## Infobox (officeholder)

- **name**: Roy Cooper
- **image**: Roy Cooper in November 2023 (cropped2).jpg
- **caption**: Cooper in 2023
- **order**: 75th Governor of North Carolina
- **term start**: January 1, 2017
- **term end**: January 1, 2025
- **predecessor**: Pat McCrory
- **successor**: Josh Stein
- **office1**: 50th North Carolina Attorney General, Attorney General of North Carolina
- **term start1**: January 6, 2001
- **term end1**: January 1, 2017
- **predecessor1**: Mike Easley
- **successor1**: Josh Stein
- **office2**: Majority Leader of the North Carolina Senate
- **term start2**: July 17, 1997
- **term end2**: January 1, 2001
- **predecessor2**: Richard Conder
- **successor2**: Tony Rand
- **state senate3**: North Carolina
- **district3**: North Carolina's 10th Senate district, 10th
- **term start3**: February 21, 1991
- **term end3**: January 1, 2001
- **predecessor3**: Jim Ezzell
- **successor3**: A. B. Swindell
- **state house4**: North Carolina
- **district4**: North Carolina's 72nd House district, 72nd
- **term start4**: February 9, 1987
- **term end4**: February 21, 1991
- **predecessor4**: Allen Barbee
- **successor4**: Edward McGee
- **birth name**: Roy Asberry Cooper III
- **birth place**: Nashville, North Carolina, U.S.
- **party**: Democratic Party (United States), Democratic
- **children**: 3
- **education**: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (Bachelor of Arts, BA, Juris Doctor, JD)
- **signature**: Roycoopersig.svg