Politics & Government

Republican Howard Coble is running for re-election to the US House.

Jeff Tiberii: The senior member of North Carolina’s congressional delegation was first elected in 1984. A victory this year would give Coble a 15th term in office. The 80-year-old was asked yesterday if this would be his final re-election campaign.

Howard Coble: I wouldn’t say with finality one way or the other, but give me a little weaseling room if you will. Of course elected officials never ask for weaseling room, do they.

North Carolina’s first female governor has decided not to seek re-election this year. Governor Bev Perdue issued a statement yesterday saying that seeking a second term would "only further politicize the fight to adequately fund our schools." Her decision leaves the Democratic field of prospective gubernatorial candidates wide open. And it changes the political dynamic leading up to the November election.

North Carolina Governor Bev Perdue announced today that she will not seek a second term this year. The Democratic Governor was the first woman elected to the position and all indications were that she planned to seek re-election.

Congressman Brad Miller has announced that he will not seek re-election. Miller made the decision after the Republican-controlled State Legislature drew maps that would have put him in the same primary election as his Democratic colleague, David Price.

In an interview today with WUNC, Miller said he’s not sure what he will do when he leaves Congress.

Brad Miller: There’s a well-worn path of former members becoming lobbyists and I really don’t want to do that unless it’s the only way I can eat.

Democratic Governor Bev Perdue says she will not run for re-election this year. Perdue released a statement today 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 female governor in 2008. Perdue announced last week she would offer a budget this spring that would seek a sales tax increase for education. Republicans in the legislature let a temporary sales tax increase expire last summer.

Lawmakers in Raleigh listened to presentations today about the impact of illegal immigration on North Carolina.