Roy Cooper Launches 2026 US Senate Bid in North Carolina

Former North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper officially entered the 2026 U.S. Senate race on July 28, 2025, announcing his candidacy to succeed retiring Republican Senator Thom Tillis. In a video shared on X, Cooper stated, “I have thought on it and prayed about it … I am running to be the next U.S. Senator from North Carolina,” warning that the nation faces “a moment as fragile as any I can remember.”

At age 68, Cooper brings a long record of public service to the race. He served four terms as North Carolina Attorney General from 2001 to 2017 before being elected governor in 2016. In a significant upset, Cooper narrowly defeated incumbent Republican Governor Pat McCrory by just over 10,000 votes—one of the closest gubernatorial races in state history. He won re-election in 2020 by a larger margin, defeating Republican Lieutenant Governor Dan Forest by more than 4 points. His consistent ability to win statewide in an intensely competitive swing state—twice for governor and four times for attorney general—has cemented Roy Cooper’s status as one of the most successful statewide candidates in the state, a distinction made even more notable given Democrats’ broader struggles to win statewide elections in Southern states, where Republican dominance has grown steadily over the past two decades.

Cooper’s entry into the Senate race has quickly transformed the Democratic primary. Within 24 hours of his announcement, former U.S. Representative Wiley Nickel ended his campaign and endorsed Cooper, clearing the field for what now appears to be a smooth path to the nomination.

Democrats view the 2026 midterms as a critical opportunity to flip the Senate. Still, their path hinges on flipping at least four GOP-held seats—no small task given the disadvantages of the electoral map, which heavily favors Republicans. North Carolina will be a key battleground in that effort. North Carolina's statewide elections are consistently tight — Democrats and Republicans each win major races by narrow margins, typically in the 1–4% range, underlining its status as an actual purple state. North Carolina represents one of the few genuine pickup opportunities for Democrats, making the race an essential battleground in their push to flip the Senate.

Cooper’s high name recognition, proven electoral strength, and moderate profile make him one of the party’s strongest contenders nationwide. With North Carolina’s Senate seat up for grabs and a national spotlight on the race, Cooper’s candidacy offers Democrats a rare opportunity to gain ground in a Republican-leaning cycle.

The contest to replace Tillis is expected to draw significant national attention and spending from both parties. For Democrats, Cooper’s candidacy may be their best shot in a state that has not elected a Democrat to the U.S. Senate since 2008.