European leaders are closely watching U.S. elections this fall — and not just the presidential one — North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper said Tuesday, days after returning from a corporate recruiting trip to Germany, France and Switzerland.
But he also said business leaders are keenly aware of local politics and that Cooper, despite his invitations to move to North Carolina, has only six months left in his term as governor.
The Governor's Office is responsible for the state Department of Commerce and its economic development activities.
Republican Lt. Governor Mark Robinson and Democrat Attorney General Josh Stein are running to replace Cooper.
Cooper is a vocal opponent of Robinson and is supporting his fellow Democrat, Stein, as the governor's successor. Speaking to reporters on Tuesday after the Legislature's monthly meeting, which brings together all of the state's top government officials, Cooper said he had conveyed that message of support to his colleagues overseas.
“They like the predictability of North Carolina,” he said, “They like North Carolina's centrist approach to politics. They like the fact that we've worked together on economic development. I told them I'm confident that will continue. I believe Josh Stein will be elected governor and continue a lot of the progressive progress that we've made in our state.”
As for Robinson, Cooper added, “He should not be governor.”
Robinson and Stein are state representatives, and Cooper made his comments after the meeting on Tuesday. Robinson, who did not attend the meeting in person or remotely, and his campaign did not immediately respond to a request for response to Cooper's remarks.
The Governor's Role in Attracting Businesses
Cooper is focused on recruiting international business talent with a focus on the clean energy, aerospace and biotechnology industries. Our focus on specific industries develops supply chain and specialized talent to drive job creation.
In particular, Cooper is focused on clean energy, as he previously told WRAL, not only because of new economic possibilities but also because of concerns about climate change.
Cooper added Tuesday that whoever voters elect as the next governor in November, that person should not back down from efforts to increase North Carolina's presence in the international community.
Cooper previously credited former Republican Gov. Pat McCrory, whom he ousted in 2016, with starting negotiations with Toyota. Negotiations failed under McCrory but have since borne fruit in the form of a massive electric vehicle battery factory Toyota is building outside Greensboro that is expected to eventually employ more than 5,000 local workers.
Cooper pointed to his recent trip to Europe as well as his trip to Japan last year, which led to further expansion of a Toyota plant and then sparked a rare visit to Raleigh by the Japanese prime minister, a visit that coincided with an announcement that a Japanese biotech company would add hundreds of jobs to Holly Springs.
“We saw in Japan that in-person meetings really made a difference,” Cooper said, “and I think in Western Europe, it can really make a difference, too, no matter who the governor is. I think it's important that we show these companies that we really want their business, and then come and tell them that, no matter who the governor is.”
