Former Governor Roy Cooper officially announced his candidacy for the US Senate on Monday, ending months of speculation that he would run for the seat currently held by retiring Sen. Thom Tillis.

On Saturday, in a speech at the North Carolina Democratic Party’s Unity Dinner in Raleigh, Cooper highlighted his frustration with congressional Republicans’ growing attacks on the middle class.

“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 everyday working people,” Cooper told the crowd.

🎥 @rdrhoney/cardinal & Pine