North Carolina Gov. Cooper's name surges as possible Harris running mate

For the second weekend in a row, there's been a seismic, historic shift in the 2024 presidential race.

If you went off the grid (way off): President Biden announced Sunday that he is stepping aside as the presumptive Democratic nominee for the 2024 presidential contest. Minutes later he endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris to be the new nominee, thrusting the party into territory it hasn't seen since the 1960s, with less than a month until its convention.

Why it matters: You'll see a different Democratic presidential candidate atop your ballot come November. It seems likely to be Harris at this point, but nothing is set until the convention, which begins August 19.

• North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper, who is term-limited after this year, is on most short lists speculating who will be Harris's running mate.

The latest: North Carolina's Democratic delegation unanimously endorsed Harris for president, the party said in a release Sunday night.

The big picture: Democrats have high hopes of regaining ground in swing states like ours, and Cooper could help, as evidenced by his track record in recent years.

• Cooper won North Carolina in 2016 and 2020, years that President Trump also carried the state. And for years, he was the only person standing between the Republican-controlled General Assembly and many bills becoming law — including abortion legislation , a top issue for Democrats this campaign.
• Among the other names floated for VP is Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, another popular governor in a crucial swing state that Trump's campaign has indicated will be central to its November campaign strategy.

Zoom in: Cooper led North Carolina Democrats in praising Biden after the president's decision to drop out Sunday, posting on X , "[Biden] was able to pass transformative legislation that will benefit our economy, our families, and our country for generations to come. Just as impactful as the laws he passed, though, is his ability to listen to everyday people, relate to their struggles, and give them hope."

• He later endorsed Harris in a separate post .
• Cooper has been a loyal soldier for the Biden-Harris administration, working closely with Biden on a variety of issues in recent years and hosting Biden and Harris in the state a combined 11 times this year.

Go deeper: What's next for Democrats and delegates to replace Biden on the ticket

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