Beverly Eaves "Bev" Perdue (born Beverly Marlene Moore; January 14, 1947) is an American politician and member of the Democratic Party who served as the 73rd Governor of the U.S. state of North Carolina. She was the first female governor of North Carolina.Perdue started her political career in the 1980s, serving in the North Carolina House of Representatives. She then served five terms in the North Carolina Senate before she was elected as the 32nd Lieutenant Governor of North Carolina.