Roy Cooper Makes Senate Run Official for 2026
So here’s the big political news out of North Carolina — Roy Cooper, the former two-term Democratic governor, has officially announced that he's running for the U.S. Senate in 2026. The announcement was made Monday morning on social media, where Cooper said he had thought about it, prayed on it, and ultimately decided to throw his hat into the ring for a seat in Washington.
Now, this doesn’t come as a huge surprise. Cooper had been widely talked about as a top Democratic pick for this Senate seat, especially after Republican Senator Thom Tillis announced he wouldn’t be seeking a third term. That left an open seat — and in a swing state like North Carolina, that’s a big deal. With the Senate currently hanging in a pretty tight balance, every seat counts, and North Carolina is shaping up to be one of the most high-stakes, expensive Senate races in the country.
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Cooper has a strong political track record. Over the last 30-plus years, he’s never lost a race in the state — from his time in the state Senate, to attorney general, to two terms as governor. What’s even more impressive is that he managed to win even when Republicans were dominating in presidential elections. That kind of electoral resilience makes him a serious contender.
On the Republican side, Michael Whatley — current chair of the Republican National Committee and a staunch Trump ally — is expected to be Cooper’s main opponent. Whatley’s already got Trump’s endorsement, and he’s being billed as a strong “America First” conservative. That sets the stage for a pretty intense red-versus-blue showdown.
It’s worth noting that Cooper has been courted for years to run for Senate, but until now, he’s always declined. In fact, just last year, there was even talk that Kamala Harris's team considered him as a possible running mate when she became the Democratic nominee. Cooper didn’t go for it then, but this time, the timing seems right — and the open seat likely helped seal the deal.
So, we’re looking at a heavyweight race — a popular Democrat with a proven record going up against a Trump-endorsed Republican in a critical battleground state. This will absolutely be one to watch as we head toward 2026.
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