RALEIGH, N.C. – North Carolina Gov. Beverly Perdue, the first woman governor in the state, will not seek re-election, a Democratic official said Thursday.
Perdue faced a tough rematch against former Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory, a Republican she narrowly defeated in 2008 in the state’s closest gubernatorial contest since 1972. Perdue’s win was partly attributed to Barack Obama’s surprise victory in North Carolina.
Perdue was expected to make a formal announcement later Thursday, according to a Democratic official, who requested anonymity in order to discuss the governor’s decision. Officials at her campaign and Perdue’s press office didn’t immediately return phone calls seeking comment.
News of Perdue’s decision came as North Carolina Democratic Rep. Brad Miller said he also would not seek re-election, avoiding a potential primary contest against fellow Democrat David Price after the Republican-controlled Legislature drew them into the same district.
North Carolina is considered an important state for Obama’s re-election prospects and Democrats decided to hold the party convention in Charlotte in September.
Perdue, 65, has struggled with a state economy hit hard by the recession and an unemployment rate persistently above the national average. Polling conducted throughout her term has consistently shown her approval ratings hovering around 40 percent.
She’s had to deal
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