Roy Cooper Announces 2026 U.S. Senate Run in North Carolina

On July 28, 2025, Roy Cooper, the former two-term Democratic governor of North Carolina, officially announced his candidacy for the United States Senate in 2026. The announcement has set the stage for what is expected to be one of the most competitive and closely watched Senate races in the country. Cooper’s decision follows months of speculation and comes on the heels of Republican Senator Thom Tillis’s announcement in June that he would not seek reelection after serving two terms.

A Legacy of Leadership in North Carolina

Roy Cooper’s political career spans over three decades, during which he has never lost an election. From serving in the North Carolina State Senate to four terms as the state’s attorney general and two terms as governor, Cooper has earned a reputation as a disciplined campaigner and a leader capable of bridging partisan divides. His tenure as governor was marked by significant bipartisan achievements, including the expansion of Medicaid in 2023, which provided health coverage to hundreds of thousands of North Carolinians.

In his announcement video, Cooper emphasized his deep roots in North Carolina and his lifelong commitment to serving its people. “I never really wanted to go to Washington,” he stated. “But these are not ordinary times.” Cooper cited his frustration with federal policies that he believes have harmed middle-class families, including cuts to healthcare and education funding. His message resonated as a call to action, positioning him as a candidate who can bring practical solutions and bipartisan sensibilities to Washington.

A High-Stakes Senate Race

The 2026 Senate race in North Carolina is poised to be one of the most expensive and contentious contests in the nation. With the Republican Party holding a slim 53-47 majority in the Senate, the outcome of this race could significantly impact the balance of power in Congress. Michael Whatley, the former Republican National Committee Chair, has emerged as the GOP’s likely candidate. Backed by President $1 Trump, Whatley is expected to mount a strong challenge against Cooper.

Strategists from both parties agree that the race will likely come down to a razor-thin margin. “It’s going to be a knife fight in a telephone booth,” outgoing Senator Thom Tillis remarked in a recent interview with NOTUS. While Democrats view Cooper as their best chance to flip the seat, Republicans are gearing up to attack his record as governor, focusing on issues such as school closures during the COVID-19 pandemic and his veto of a ban on transgender athletes in women’s sports.

Democratic Hopes and Challenges

Democrats are pinning their hopes on Cooper’s proven ability to win over Republican-leaning voters. In both 2016 and 2020, he secured the governor’s seat even as Donald Trump carried North Carolina in the presidential elections. However, federal races have historically been a tougher battleground for Democrats in the state. The party has not won a Senate race in North Carolina since 2008, and the last four Senate contests have gone to Republican candidates.

Despite these challenges, Democratic strategists believe Cooper’s leadership record and his focus on kitchen-table issues could give him an edge. “This is stuff that’s going to affect people’s daily lives,” said Gary Pearce, a veteran Democratic strategist, in an interview with The Assembly NC. Cooper is expected to highlight his Medicaid expansion achievement and contrast it with the Republican Party’s efforts to cut healthcare programs and reduce funding for social services.

The National Implications

North Carolina’s Senate seat is one of the key targets for Democrats in the 2026 midterms, alongside the seat held by Republican Senator Susan Collins in Maine. To gain a majority in the Senate, Democrats would need to win a net of four seats, a daunting task given the Republican dominance in many battleground states. Cooper’s candidacy has been hailed as a significant recruitment win for the Democratic Party, which has struggled to field strong candidates in other competitive states like Ohio, Texas, and Iowa.

Republicans, on the other hand, are determined to hold onto the seat. The National Republican Senatorial Committee has already launched attack ads against Cooper, labeling him as a proponent of liberal policies that are out of touch with North Carolina voters. Michael Whatley’s campaign is expected to focus on painting Cooper as a career politician who cannot be trusted to represent the state’s conservative values in Washington.

A Defining Moment

As the race unfolds, North Carolina voters will face a stark choice between two contrasting visions for the state and the nation. Roy Cooper’s campaign will likely emphasize his track record of bipartisan leadership and his commitment to addressing the issues that matter most to everyday Americans. Meanwhile, Michael Whatley and the Republican Party will work to energize their base by tying Cooper to national Democratic policies that they argue have failed the state.

*The 2026 Senate race in North Carolina is shaping up to be a defining moment in the state’s political history, with implications that extend far beyond its borders. As both parties gear up for what promises to be a hard-fought battle, the eyes of the nation will be on North Carolina once again.*