Summary
Roy Cooper, a former Democratic governor of North Carolina, announced he will run for the U.S. Senate in the 2026 election. He enters the race as a strong candidate to replace retiring Republican Senator Thom Tillis. Cooper has a long political history in North Carolina and hopes to win a seat in a state where Republicans have often been successful in federal elections.
Key Facts
- Roy Cooper was the governor of North Carolina for two terms.
- He announced his run for the U.S. Senate through a video on social media and his campaign website.
- The Senate seat is open due to the retirement of Republican Senator Thom Tillis.
- Michael Whatley, a Republican, plans to run and has been endorsed by Donald Trump.
- Democrats view Cooper as a strong contender to win the seat, which they need to help regain a Senate majority.
- Cooper's video focused on issues like the middle class and criticized current policies in Washington, D.C.
- Cooper has been a political figure in North Carolina since the 1980s, having also served as the state's attorney general.
- North Carolina’s political races are expensive due to multiple television markets and are often decided in favor of Republicans at the federal level.
