RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Democratic North Carolina Gov. Beverly Perdue says she is not running for re-election this year.
Perdue released a statement Thursday saying she won’t seek another four-year term because she believes a re-election bid would make it more difficult to find a bipartisan solution to fund public education in a divisive political environment.
Perdue became North Carolina’s first woman governor in 2008.
She has faced poor poll numbers, continued budget troubles and a campaign investigation while Republicans took over the Legislature last year.
Perdue announced last week she would offer a budget this spring that would seek a sales tax increase for education. Republicans let a temporary sales tax increase expire last summer.
