Roy Cooper officially enters US Senate race

Cooper on Monday announced his candidacy for North Carolina’s US Senate seat in 2026. He hasn’t lost an election since entering politics in 1986.

Former North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper formally announced his candidacy for the US Senate on Monday, setting up what is expected to be the most consequential election in the 2026 midterm elections. 

Cooper made the announcement in a video shared exclusively with McClatchy, the publisher of the News & Observer.

Cooper, who served two terms as governor, four as attorney general, and 14 years in the North Carolina General Assembly, has never lost a statewide election, and is considered one of the most formidable Democrats in the country. 

“I’ve thought about it and prayed about it and decided I want to serve as your next United States senator because even now I still believe our best days are ahead of us,” Cooper said in the announcement video.

During the North Carolina Democratic Party’s Unity Dinner on Saturday night, Cooper offered a a preview of the issues he might run on, highlighting in his speech the cost-of-living crisis, and threats to Medicaid expansion and public education.

“For too many Americans, the middle class feels like a distant dream. Meanwhile, the biggest corporations and the richest Americans have grabbed obscene wealth at the expense of every day working people,” Cooper said in the speech.

READ MORE: Roy Cooper will be remembered as one of North Carolina’s most beloved governors

Cooper, who has been out of office since January 1, emphasized to the crowd the importance of not staying on the sidelines while so much is at stake.

“We all need to stay engaged and do something about it,” he said.

From nearly his first day in office as governor, Cooper fought to expand Medicaid in North Carolina over Republican objections, and the issue will likely be a centerpiece of his campaign. 

In 2023, his work paid off after NC lawmakers passed an expansion bill in a bipartisan vote. Nearly 670,000 North Carolinians have since enrolled in the program.

“When [Republicans] spent a decade blocking Medicaid expansion, we didn’t just give up and let hope fade away, we did something,” he said on Saturday. “And that’s how we got healthcare for 675,000 working people in North Carolina.”

The budget bill backed by President Trump and passed this month by Congressional Republicans, however, threatens the state’s expansion because it cuts nearly $40 billion from Medicaid funding in the state over the next decade. When the General Assembly passed its Medicaid expansion bill two years ago, it included a trigger law that would end the program should the federal government’s commitment to Medicaid funding drop below 90%. 

Cooper also addressed his disdain for the actions of Republicans in Washington.

“They are running up our debt; they are disrespecting our veterans, they’re cutting help for the hungry, and they’re ripping away healthcare for millions of people” Cooper said. 

A monumental election

A favorite also emerged for the Republican Party’s nomination for the Senate seat this week.

Politico reported that Michael Whatley, the current chair of the Republican National Committee, and a former chair of the North Carolina Republican Party, was preparing to announce a Senate run. Later that day, President Trump officially announced his support for Whatley in a post to Truth Social. 

“​​I need him in Washington, and I need him representing YOU!,” Trump wrote.

Last month, current Sen. Thom Tillis (R) announced that he would not seek a third term, leaving the Republican nomination open.  

Lara Trump, the daughter-in-law of the president, and a North Carolina native, declined to run after speculation she would return to the state to run for Tillis’ seat.

The NC Senate race could be the most closely watched election in the country in 2026, in part because it could be the most consequential. 

A Cooper victory would give Democrats an opportunity to win back the Senate, giving them control of  at least one chamber of Congress to act as a check on Trump’s policies. A Republican victory in the state, however, would all but guarantee the GOP maintains control of the Senate.

Strong support for Cooper among attendees, officials

 Democrats Saturday’s Unity Dinner expressed excitement about Cooper’s campaign to Cardinal & Pine. 

Liz Purvis, the Granville County Democratic Party Chair, said she thought Cooper was a great candidate because of his record on Medicaid and his “likeability and … sense of authenticity.”

Rural Democrats also expressed their support for Cooper, praising his efforts for their communities as governor.

Charlie Wallin, the 5th District Democratic Party Chair and a former Watauga County Commissioner, said Cooper has spent a lot of time traveling all over the state, including his district. 

“[Cooper] is really passionate about the mountains and western North Carolina, and I think he will do a lot for the people, and he will represent the whole state.”