The Charlotte Observer Ends 25-Year Streak of Endorsing Pat McCrory

North Carolina's largest newspaper cites to the governor's support of transphobic legislation as a reason why the state has lost its "stature."

The Charlotte Observer has endorsed Gov. Pat McCrory throughout his political career. But that streak has come to an end.

North Carolina's largest newspaper has backed the Republican candidate since 1991. But on Friday, the editorial staff broke with tradition to endorse Democrat Roy Cooper for the office of governor.

"Voters have a superior option in Democrat Roy Cooper," the staff wrote in an editorial letter. "A Morehead Scholar at UNC, a former Senate majority leader and a four-term attorney general, Cooper has the experience, the intelligence and the policy stances needed to return the state to its stature as a progressive leader in the South."

"That stature has been lost under McCrory," the letter continued. "While the state’s and nation’s attention has rightfully been focused on HB2 since spring, McCrory’s lack of leadership and wrong-headed policies have been on display since his first year in Raleigh."

The Charlotte Observer listed the governor's continued defense of House Bill 2 as a key reason for the Southern state's loss of "stature." The legislation, signed into law by McCrory in March, bans transgender people from accessing public facilities like bathrooms and locker rooms that correspond with their gender identity. It also eliminates all existing LGBT-inclusive nondiscrimination ordinances in the state, and prohibits cities from adopting any new ones.

HB 2 has been widely condemned by LGBT and human rights groups, business leaders, sports leagues, and presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, with many joining a social media campaign #WeAreNotThis to protest its passing.

The Charlotte Observer noted it had cautioned McCrory to “stay away from lightning-rod social issues" after the mid-term elections in 2014. The politician did not heed the warning.

"Governor, meet lightning rod," the letter noted. "McCrory rushed to sign House Bill 2 on March 23, hours after the House and Senate rammed it through. North Carolina’s reputation has been melting ever since. McCrory adamantly defends the discriminatory measure and dismisses the NCAA, the ACC, scores of business executives and others who have condemned the legislation. It was a hateful and self-defeating bill, and it will be McCrory’s legacy."

"Cooper opposes HB2 and says he would work to repeal it," the newspaper praised.

The Charlotte Observer detailed several other reasons for changing its endorsement, including, "McCrory has signed enough bad legislation to fill a library" and has been "spineless" in standing up to "the most egregious ideas" of the legislature.

Read it in full here.