Roy Cooper Announces Run for Senate
The race is expected to be one of the most competitive in 2026.
The popular two-term governor would replace the retiring Republican Sen. Thom Tillis.
Former North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper launched his campaign Monday, July 28, 2025.
In his video, Cooper said, “politicians in DC” are “running up our debt, ripping away our health care” and “cutting help for the poor,” even as they “give tax breaks to billionaires.”
Following Cooper’s Senate campaign announcement, Anderson Clayton, North Carolina Democratic Party Chair, released the following statement:
“There is no one who loves North Carolina more than Roy Cooper. From expanding Medicaid for hundreds of thousands of North Carolinians, to working across the aisle to balance the budget and bring good-paying jobs to our state, to taking on scammers and criminals as attorney general, Governor Cooper has always put us first. Roy Cooper is one of the best champions North Carolina has ever had, and we are confident he will flip this seat in 2026.”
The son of a public school teacher and small-town lawyer and farmer, Cooper has spent his life serving the people of North Carolina. As Attorney General, Cooper prosecuted criminals and took on scammers, big banks, and drug companies. As Governor, Cooper balanced the state budget every year and worked with Republicans to raise teacher pay, recruit thousands of better-paying jobs, and expand Medicaid to more than 650,000 working North Carolinians. He left office as one of the country’s most popular governors.
Now, he’s running for Senate to protect and grow the middle class and put a stop to the politicians in D.C. who are running up the debt, ripping away health care from hundreds of thousands of North Carolinians, disrespecting veterans, and putting Medicare and Social Security at risk – all to give tax breaks to billionaires. As Senator, Cooper will always put North Carolina first.
Get involved, or learn more at roycooper.com.
