Chris Cooper was surprised by what he found.
While researching his 2024 book Anatomy of a Purple State, the political scientist examined decades of presidential races in the United States, combing through polls, studies and newspaper archives.
He found that, in the last 12 presidential elections, North Carolina functioned as a “swing state” in all but one contest — a 1984 blowout by incumbent Ronald Reagan.
It was an eye-opening revelation for Cooper, given that North Carolina has only recently been embraced as a coveted prize in the country’s presidential races.
This year, North Carolina is considered one of seven pivotal battlegrounds where the outcome of the November 5 presidential race is unclear.
It could lean towards the Republican candidate, Donald Trump, or it could tilt towards his Democratic rival, Kamala Harris. In a tight race, a win in the southern state could help catapult either candidate to victory.
But for Cooper, North Carolina’s newfound notoriety as a kingmaker is the culmination of decades of shifting trends.
“We have a longer experience as a battleground state than I understood,” Cooper told Al Jazeera.