North Carolina Governor Bev Perdue announced yesterday that she will not seek re-election this fall. Given that North Carolina is a swing state and host to the 2012 Democratic National Convention, Perdue’s retirement has policy implications beyond her personal future.

The announcement came just one week after her ill-timed proposal to raise $800 million in taxes and after a year of having her vetoes overrode by the state legislature. Residents in North Carolina have signaled that they favor economic freedom, low taxes, and limited government over heavy regulation and out-of-control spending.

“Governor Perdue has relentlessly pursued an agenda of higher taxes and bigger government,” says Americans for Prosperity – North Carolina State Director Dallas Woodhouse. “Her opposition to free-market reforms such as allowing temporary sales and income tax hikes to expire, medical malpractice reform, regulatory reform, and the energy jobs act, has simply made her unelectable."

North Carolina’s legislature passed a number of reform bills during the 2011 legislative session – over Governor Perdue’s veto opposition – and is poised to pass more bills in the 2012 session.

“Bad policy makes bad politics. Her decision is a reflection of her failed policy positions,” Dallas explained.

“While we have disagreed vehemently with many of the political positions of Governor Bev Perdue, we honor and recognize her service to the state of North Carolina and wish her well in retirement.“