Cooper after Democratic governors meet with Biden: Trump is ‘threat to our democracy’
President Joe Biden met with several Democratic governors Wednesday evening, including North Carolina Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper.
Cooper said in a statement after the meeting that he would continue to support Biden, and called former President Donald Trump a “threat to our democracy.”
“We had a good meeting with the President talking about what’s needed to win. Donald Trump is an existential threat to our democracy, and everyone in the room agreed that defeating him is imperative,” Cooper said.
“President Biden told us he is definitely running for reelection, he is our nominee and we’ll continue doing everything we can to deliver North Carolina for him,” Cooper added.
The meeting began at 6:30 p.m., according to the White House. It ended about 7:45. The meeting comes as Biden may have been weighing whether to say in the race for reelection this fall in a rematch against Trump.
Other Democratic governors attending the meeting included California Gov. Gavin Newsom, whose name is near the top of speculative lists about who, if anyone, would replace Biden if he leaves the race. Newsom went to the meeting in person, the Sacramento Bee reported.
Democrats have criticized media for pushing the idea that Biden may not stay in the race. The meeting with Democratic governors is also because they are champions of Biden.
Just before the meeting, the Democratic National Committee sent a fundraising email out to Democrats, saying that Biden is staying in.
“A short while ago, President Biden and Vice President Harris got on a campaign all-staff call and ended any speculation by the pundits about his future. He’s staying in. He is the leader of the Democratic Party. If we’re with him, not only is he going to win, but we are going to elect Democrats up and down the ballot this fall.
“This is an all-hands-on-deck moment for Democrats. The outcome of the elections this November is something we all have a role in shaping,” the email stated before asking for donations.
After Biden and Harris met with the governors, Newsom shared his continuing support of Biden on social media.
“I heard three words from the President tonight — he’s all in. And so am I,” Newsom wrote on X, formerly Twitter, adding that Biden has “had our back. Now it’s time to have his.”
The Biden-Harris campaign also sent a fundraising email out to supporters Wednesday evening, writing that Biden knows “the past few days have been tough. I’m sure you’re getting a lot of questions. I’m sure many of you have questions as well. So, let me say this as clearly and simply as I can: I’m running.”
“I’m the Democratic Party’s nominee. No one is pushing me out. I’m not leaving, I’m in this race to the end, and we are going to win this election,” the email, signed simply “Joe,” says.
If Biden were to step aside and have Harris lead the ticket, Cooper is among the several names floated on various national media lists as a vice presidential candidate.
He has also previously led the Democratic Governors Association and is a longtime Biden surrogate. He amplified his Biden campaigning this year. He has also known Harris for many years, as they were both previously state attorneys general. Every time Harris or Biden visits North Carolina, Cooper is there, taking the stage ahead of them to welcome them, be a hype man and promote their accomplishments.
Names of governors at the meeting with Biden, Harris
The White House pool report shared the list of governors who attended the meeting with Biden and Harris.
▪ Governors there in person:
Gov. Tim Walz, Minnesota, chair of the Democratic Governors Association;
Newsom;
Gov. John Carney, Delaware;
Gov. J.B. Pritzker, Illinois;
Gov. Andy Beshear, Kentucky;
Gov. Wes Moore, Maryland;
Gov. Maura Healey, Massachusetts;
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, Michigan;
Gov. Kathy Hochul, New York;
Gov. Dan McKee, Rhode Island.
▪ Governors who called in remotely:
Gov. Laura Kelly, Kansas, vice chair of the Democratic Governors Association;
Gov. Katie Hobbs, Arizona;
Gov. Jared Polis, Colorado;
Gov. Ned Lamont, Connecticut;
Gov. Josh Green, Hawaii;
Gov. Janet Mills, Maine;
Cooper;
Gov. Phil Murphy, New Jersey;
Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, New Mexico;
Gov. Tina Kotek, Oregon;
Gov. Josh Shapiro, Pennsylvania;
Gov. Pedro Pierluisi, Puerto Rico;
Gov. Albert Bryan Jr., U.S. Virgin Islands;
Gov. Jay Inslee, Washington.
D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser also attended.
On Wednesday evening, former presidential candidate and former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean said on CNN that if Harris was the nominee, he’d like to see either Shapiro or Cooper as vice president on the ticket.
Cooper’s future in public service
Cooper has told reporters several times for the past months — and even years — that he wants to continue working in public service after his second term ends Dec. 31. North Carolina’s governors are limited to two consecutive terms.
It’s an open secret that Cooper will likely seek a Cabinet appointment in the Biden-Harris administration, should they win in November, and/or run for U.S. Senate in 2026. Biden even quipped at his rally in Raleigh the day after the debate that he might steal Cooper away.
Cooper deferred reporters’ questions about Biden’s future on Monday when he was joined by U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg at an infrastructure event in Raleigh. Both men answered questions about stepping into the race if Biden leaves by praising Biden’s work. And Biden used his more lively post-debate speech in Raleigh in a new campaign ad out this week.
CNN reported on Tuesday that Democratic governors were on a call together talking about Biden and wanting to hear from him directly about the debate. Also on Tuesday, White House spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre confirmed during a press briefing the meeting with Democratic governors, in person and virtual, was planned for Wednesday.
North Carolina Democratic Party Chair Anderson Clayton said the party stands behind Biden.
“We stand behind the person that is there right now,” Clayton told The N&O on Wednesday. “We stand against fascism right now.”
