Update: Gov. Perdue releases statement confirming she won't seek re-election

By: WNCT Staff | WNCT
Published: January 26, 2012
Updated: January 26, 2012 - 6:21 PM

RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCT) – Gov. Bev Perdue has released a statement confirming that she will not seek re-election in 2012.

In the statement, Perdue says, "It is clear to me that my race for re-election will only further politicize the fight to adequately fund our schools. A re-election campaign in this already divisive environment will make it more difficult to find any bipartisan solutions."

Read the full statement by clicking here.

A Democratic source had said that Perdue wouldn't seek re-election earlier in the day. That same source spoke on condition of anonymity as Perdue was expected to make a formal announcement later Thursday.

The Washington Post, which first broke the news Thursday morning, reports possible replacements on the Democratic ticket include Lt. Gov. Walter Dalton, Attorney General Roy Cooper, former White House chief-of-staff Erskine Bowles and Charlotte Mayor Anthony Foxx.

This news follows Rep. Brad Miller's announcement he won’t run for re-election.

Gov. Perdue’s 2008 challenger Pat McCrory is set to formally announce his bid for Governor next week.

Perdue narrowly defeated McCrory back then. It was North Carolina's closest gubernatorial contest since 1972, thanks partly to Barack Obama's surprise win in the state.

Perdue is the first woman elected governor in North Carolina history.