RALEIGH, N.C. — North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper is ending 2023 with one of his biggest achievements in office: Medicaid expansion.
"I think one of the best days I've had as governor is being in an Enrollment Center in Charlotte. And seeing everyday working people finally being able to get health care," Gov. Cooper said in a one-on-one with WCNC Charlotte's Ben Thompson on Flashpoint.
Starting in December, 600,000 people in North Carolina with low-paying jobs that don't offer benefits received health care for the first time.
GOP leaders attached expansion to this year's budget, a financial plan for the state that Cooper said was otherwise "bad."
"When you're in government and trying to do good for the people, sometimes you have to forge compromises," Cooper said.
Compromise might be tough to come by in 2024. It's an election year, and Cooper said a lot is at stake.
"Women's reproductive freedom is at stake. Public education is at stake," Cooper said.
The NC Constitution prohibits Cooper from running for a third term. Otherwise, he'd be tempted to run again, he said.
"This has been an amazing opportunity. It's been the honor of my life to serve this state where I grew up, where I was born, that I love so deeply," he said.
Contact Ben Thompson at bthompson@wcnc.com and follow him on Facebook, X and Instagram.
Flashpoint is a weekly in-depth look at politics in Charlotte, North Carolina, South Carolina, and beyond with host Ben Thompson. Listen to the podcast weekly.
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