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.
Meanwhile, Congressman Brad Miller announced today he will not seek re-election this year to the seat he's held since 2002. The 13th Congressional District representative says he wants to avoid running against fellow Democratic incumbent David Price in a primary after the Republican-controlled Legislature redrew voting maps to put them in the same district. Price said in a statement that working with Miller has been a privilege. Price also pledged to support efforts to overturn the redrawn district maps.