Democrat on NC Supreme Court eyeing 2024 governor's race

Democratic state Supreme Court Justice Michael Morgan says he's "seriously considering“ running for the Democratic nomination for governor in 2024.

Morgan had previously announced he would not seek reelection to the state Supreme Court. If he were to win reelection to his seat, Morgan, who is 67, would only be able to serve half of the eight-year term because the mandatory retirement age for judges in North Carolina is 72.

The justice told WRAL News that he was approached by others who encouraged him to run. He said he is still exploring the funding and resources that would be required, but he believes there’s still plenty of time to get into the race.

Attorney General Josh Stein is currently the only candidate who has announced he is running for the Democratic nomination in the 2024 governor's race.

“I’ve been a state official for 43 years and on the bench for 33 years,” Morgan said. “I know the people of North Carolina and the issues that face them, the controversies, the questions.”

Morgan declined to give a timeframe for his decision, but said that if he does enter the race, he will step down from the state Supreme Court, allowing Gov. Roy Cooper, to appoint a replacement to serve out the rest of his term, which expires in 2024.

“I will run hard and will be in it to win it, should I enter,“ Morgan told WRAL News.