Leading candidate exits Kamala Harris' 'veepstakes'

A leading contender to become Kamala Harris's running mate for the Democrats has exited the "veepstakes."

Roy Cooper, the Democratic governor of North Carolina, told Harris' team he withdrew from consideration, two people briefed on the matter told The New York Times. CNN confirmed the news, citing a source.

Cooper wrote in a Monday night statement shared to X that he strongly supports Harris' campaign and knows "she's going to win."

"This just wasn't the right time for North Carolina and for me to potentially be on a national ticket," said Cooper. "As I've said from the beginning, she has an outstanding list of people from which to choose, and we'll all work to make sure she wins."

Cooper was said to be among the six leading candidates for Harris's vice presidential candidate, along with big names such as Josh Shapiro, Mark Kelly, Andy Beshear, Tim Walz, J.B. Pritzker, Gretchen Whitmer, Gina Raimondo and Pete Buttigieg.

Harris plans to choose a running mate by Aug. 7, according to the Times.

Read also: 'About a dozen' people in contention to become Kamala Harris' running mate: report

The news comes as Trump refuses to commit to the second presidential debate in September. Harris reportedly plans to appear even if he doesn't show up.

It also comes after Buttigieg, the U.S. secretary of transportation, former Indiana mayor and 2020 Democratic presidential candidate now raising a family in his husband’s home state of Michigan, was reported to be Democrats’ top choice to become Harris’s running mate, according to a new poll.