Ex-Governor Roy Cooper intends to run for the North Carolina Senate seat

Ex-Governor Roy Cooper intends to run for the North Carolina Senate seat

In a move that has sent shockwaves through the political landscape of North Carolina, former Governor Roy Cooper has announced his intention to run for the state's Senate seat in 2026. This decision, if confirmed, promises to set the stage for a highly competitive race.

Cooper, a Democrat known for his record of winning statewide races in North Carolina, is expected to officially enter the race next week. His entry into the race comes after the retirement of Sen. Thom Tillis, leaving the Republican field in flux.

Democrats, who need to win North Carolina to have a chance at taking control of the Senate next year, view Cooper as a formidable candidate. Senate Majority PAC, a Democratic super PAC aligned with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., has already expressed confidence in Cooper's potential, with spokesperson Lauren French stating that he would be a "force to be reckoned with" in the race.

The potential Republican candidates include Lara Trump, former co-chair of the Republican National Committee and Donald Trump's daughter-in-law, who is "taking a strong look" at the race and is expected to have Trump's support if she runs. Other contenders include Michael Whatley, the current RNC Chair and former North Carolina GOP chair, Pat Harrigan, a U.S. Representative, and Don Brown, who currently has an official campaign website for the Senate seat.

Lara Trump, whose influence is likely to shape the primary dynamics, is being watched closely as a potential GOP candidate. Other notable Republicans such as Sen. Thom Tillis, Richard Hudson, and Greg Murphy have either retired from the race or declined to run, while Mark Robinson has endorsed another candidate.

If Cooper runs, it is not clear whether Democratic former Rep. Wiley Nickel will stay in the race. When asked about the prospect of Cooper running, Nickel stated that he would "cross that bridge when we get there."

The race between Cooper and his potential Republican opponents is expected to be one of the most competitive in the country. North Carolina and Maine are Democrats' best pickup opportunities for the Senate, making the race particularly significant. Cooper served four terms as North Carolina's attorney general before being elected governor in 2016.

As the race heats up, the focus will be on Cooper's ability to win over voters in North Carolina, a state he won in 2020, while Trump won by a narrow margin. Meanwhile, Lara Trump, who carried Maine in the 2020 election while losing North Carolina by 3 percentage points, is expected to make a decision on her Senate campaign by Thanksgiving, considering the impact on her young family.

Morgan Jackson, Cooper's top political adviser, has not confirmed Cooper's plans but stated he would share more about them in the coming days. As the race unfolds, the political landscape of North Carolina is set to undergo a significant shift.

1. The announcement of Cooper's intention to seek the Senate seat in 2026 has triggered a wave of migratory movements in North Carolina's political landscape.
2. Cooper's decision to enter the race next week could provide a boost for his education and self-development, as he prepares for the challenges ahead.
3. His personal growth throughout his political career may be instrumental in securing his place in the Senate.
4. The practice of mindfulness could potentially help Cooper navigate the complexities of war and conflicts, both political and personal, during his campaign.
5. The increase in productivity required for a competitive political race calls for effective career development strategies.
6. Policy and legislation will play a crucial role in Cooper's election strategy, as he aims to appease the needs of his constituents.
7. On the other side of the aisle, car accidents in the form of political missteps could derail potential Republican candidates from gaining momentum.
8. Politics, the ever-changing current, will dictate the tide for both Cooper and his opponents as they navigate the job-search process.
9. General news, sports, and weather, among other factors, will contribute to the public's perception of each candidate, influencing their decisions during the election.
10. Crime and justice, a heated topic on the campaign trail, will be a point of contention in the debates between Cooper and the Republican candidates.
11. Accidents, whether vehicular or otherwise, will be scrutinized closely during the candidate selection process.
12. Fires of political argument and debate are expected to blaze across stages and social media, fueling the goal-setting ambitions of the candidates.
13. Skills training will be a valuable asset for the candidates as they hone their speaking and debating abilities.
14. Sports, particularly football, NFL, baseball, hockey, golf, and racing, will offer moments of escape from the rigors of the political campaign.
15. Sports betting, a growing sector, could potentially provide a new source of revenue for North Carolina, depending on the stance of the winning candidate.
16. MLB, NHL, and NCAAs, amongst other leagues, will continue to captivate sports enthusiasts, offering a breather from the intense political climate.
17. Tennis, sports-analysis, and weather-forecasting will provide interesting topics for discussions, offering a diverse array of subjects for the candidates' engagement.
18. Auto-racing, mixed-martial-arts, and horse-racing, while seemingly unrelated, could serve as unexpected sources of common ground between the candidates and their constituents.
19. The weather, an integral part of North Carolina's charm, will play a role in setting the mood for this significant shift in the state's political landscape.

Read also: