Source: The News & Observer
Roy Cooper returned home to deliver his farewell address in Nash County on Dec. 18, 2024, closing his final term as North Carolina’s 75th governor.
Reflecting on eight years in office, Cooper said he was proud to have fought for Medicaid expansion, public education, and the state’s growing clean energy economy– progress toward Cooper’s goal of making North Carolina a place 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 that in many ways, these accomplishments weren’t a given. Since 2017, North Carolina has faced several challenges, from the COVID-19 pandemic to Hurricane Helene. But according to Cooper, one of the greatest and earliest challenges was the blowback to HB 2, the controversial “bathroom bill” that GOP lawmakers passed in 2016. Cooper spoke on how the legislation left the state’s reputation “in tatters,” resulting in billions of dollars of lost business. There was “one intangible impact that weighed heavy” on him as he prepared to take office: the number of North Carolinians who told him “This isn’t who we are. This isn’t what our state is about.”
Under Cooper’s administration, North Carolina bounced back, becoming the third-fastest–growing state in the country. Cooper attributed the state’s growth to the restoration of the state’s reputation “as a welcoming place where people can thrive, innovate, and grow.” As a result, North Carolina consistently earned recognition for being one of the best states for business, his administration overseeing billions of dollars of economic growth and the creation of hundreds of thousands of jobs.
In addition to a booming economy, North Carolina saw improved healthcare access and public education. Cooper pointed to how the state finally achieved Medicaid expansion, a bipartisan effort that has led to 600,000 people receiving health insurance coverage. While Cooper warned of conservative threats to public school funding, he cited progress in how the state approved a 19% increase in average teacher pay.
Cooper closed with a note of gratitude: “Being born in North Carolina, that was luck. But being Governor of North Carolina, that’s because so many people came together, with God’s guidance and blessings, to help me. And together we have made a difference.”
