In a surprise, NC labor commissioner won't run for re-election

North Carolina Labor Commissioner Josh Dobson, a 41 year old serving his first term in the statewide office, won’t seek a second one, he announced Tuesday morning.

Dobson said he’ll finish his current term. He made the announcement Tuesday morning, during a monthly meeting of North Carolina's Council of State, a collection of state government's statewide elected officials.

"After much soul searching I'm announcing that I will not seek re-election ... nor will I be a candidate for any office in 2024," Dobson said.

Dobson said he's held three elected offices for 14 consecutive years, and that it's time to "step out of elected office."

"It's nothing more, and it's nothing less than that," he said, adding that he has "no earthly idea" what his future holds. He said he wanted to announce early to give others time to build strong campaigns for the office.

Dobson served four terms in the North Carolina House of Representatives before running for labor commissioner, and before that he was a county commissioner in McDowell County. He is considered a moderate Republican, and seemed to have solid political career ahead of him. He won a three-way primary in 2020 for the labor commissioner's job, then won the general election by about 90,000 votes out of more than 5 million cast.

“I’m healthy, my family’s health, so nothing dramatic at all,” Dobson said in a text message before the Council of State meeting. "I’m going to finish my term and focus on work force health and safety, work force development and try to help tone down the divisive nature of our politics.”

During the meeting, Gov. Roy Cooper, a Democrat, thanked Dobson for his service .

"You've worked very hard on many levels to bring people together," Cooper said.