Cooper talks guns, Amazon, re-election at Duke

The governor also reiterated his support for a series of gun law changes at the state level, including new permit requirements for AR-15s and similar rifles, as well as an increased age requirement for purchases, up to 21 years old.

As for a timetable on the company's decision? Cooper said he has no idea.

"They're on their own timeline," he said. "I do know this, that had we not repealed House Bill 2, we would not even be in the discussion."

Other things the governor weighed in on Thursday:

"We are going to win districts that are very Republican," Cooper predicted.

The governor said he's "very confident" that Democrats can "significantly change" this legislature and maybe even win majorities in both chambers. He noted there's a Democrat running in all 170 House and Senate races, and 77 of them are women. Republicans currently hold a 75-45 advantage in the House and a 35-15 advantage in the Senate.

Cooper pitched his plan to have North Carolina sheriffs sign off on assault rifle purchases, just as they do now for handguns. He told co-hosts Jake Sherman and Anna Palmer that he'd support a federal ban on the weapons. Cooper said he doesn't "see a lot of hope" for changing state guns laws with the current Republican majority in the legislature, but added, "I see hope in the next General Assembly." He praised student protesters but said they must translate that into voting.

"I worry about stability," Cooper said. "I worry about the fact that, if there's constant changeover at the top, then you have no real leadership."

A failure to expand Medicaid, which would give government-funded health insurance to hundreds of thousands of North Carolinians.

The governor went on to note the pending Republican-backed "Carolina Cares" bill, which could be a vehicle for expansion, albeit with work requirements and fees the governor doesn't necessarily agree with. But he said he's willing to consider the bill "if that's what it takes to get it through this legislature."

Cooper said he sees little chance of expansion, though, if voters don't back major changes in the November elections.

"I think there are a lot of good candidates," Cooper said, without naming names. "I plan to be doing this job the next seven years."

He has three years remaining on his four-year term.