Polling Average
80%60%40%20%0%
58.5%
19%
North Carolina Democratic Senate nominee?
$46.0K
MAR 4, 2026Primary Election
Party selects its nominee.
Overview
Current roleFormer Governor
PartyDemocratic
Political ideologyModerate Democrat
Age68 years old (Jun 13, 1957)
GenderMale
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LocationNorth Carolina
BackgroundPolitician
EducationUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (BA)
Notable personal detailsRoy Asberry Cooper III is an American politician and lawyer who served as the 75th governor of North Carolina from 2017 to 2025. He previously served as North Carolina attorney general from 2001 to 2017 and earlier served in the North Carolina General Assembly, including as Senate majority leader. He earned undergraduate and law degrees from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
SourcesShowHide
en.wikipedia.orggovroycooper.orgcongress.govnga.orgwikidata.orges.wikipedia.orgcommons.wikimedia.orgbritannica.comapnews.comfacebook.comilovecarolina.comnc.govimdb.comprofilelayers.comncdhhs.govwikirank.netarxiv.orgnews.bloombergtax.comroycooper.comgovernor.nc.govimmigrationforum.orgontheissues.orgcbsnews.comdeq.nc.govcommerce.nc.govfec.govhelp.senate.govgovinfo.govballotready.org
Positions
LiberalConservative
Economy & Taxes
Supports preserving or restoring higher tax rates for corporations and top earners relative to scheduled cuts while favoring targeted tax relief for middle-class families and increased investments in education and services. Advocates using state revenue to fund teacher pay, child care, Medicaid expansion and other public priorities rather than further broad tax reductions.
Healthcare
Roy Cooper has prioritized expanding public health coverage and strengthening Medicaid in North Carolina, leading efforts to enact Medicaid expansion (effective Dec 1, 2023) and to enroll hundreds of thousands of newly eligible residents. His administration has also pushed investments in mental and behavioral health, relief of medical debt, and pilot programs addressing social drivers of health for Medicaid recipients. There is no evidence he supports single-payer/Medicare-for-All.
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Immigration & Border
Supports protections for refugees and Dreamers and has opposed state laws that would require sheriffs to cooperate with federal immigration detainers; has used gubernatorial proclamations welcoming migrants and refugees. Has repeatedly vetoed state bills increasing mandatory local cooperation with federal immigration enforcement, while expressing some caution in specific refugee-screening contexts in the past.
Abortion & Reproductive Rights
Supports protecting and restoring broad access to abortion and reproductive health care, has issued statements and an executive order to protect abortion access in North Carolina, and has opposed state legislative efforts to impose stricter bans. Seeks to keep decisions about abortion with patients and clinicians and has urged courts and voters to restore constitutional protections for abortion access.
Climate & Energy
Roy Cooper has issued multiple executive orders and state initiatives setting near- and long-term greenhouse gas reduction targets, established goals for large-scale offshore wind development, and directed state agencies to transition toward a clean energy economy while promoting clean energy job growth and federal funding for related projects.
Public Safety & Guns
Supports expanded gun-safety measures such as maintaining strong background checks, safe-storage initiatives, and creation of an Office of Violence Prevention while describing responsible gun ownership; has vetoed state legislation that would eliminate sheriff-conducted handgun background checks.
News
AINews Summary
Last updatedJun 1, 2026
Roy Cooper is in the news because he is running for the U.S. Senate in North Carolina and is currently leading Republican Michael Whatley in recent polling and prediction markets. The race is being framed as one of the most important and competitive Senate contests of 2026, with Democrats hoping it could help them win control of the chamber. Cooper is also facing Republican attacks over crime policy and COVID-era prisoner releases, which his campaign says he opposed and did not authorize.
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Articles
NNewsweek18 days ago
Roy Cooper's Chances of Beating Whatley to Flip North Carolina's GOP Senate Seat Surge-New Poll
Positive
FNFox News18 days ago
Cooper faces soft-on-crime claims from critics ahead of NC Senate race
Negative
UNU.S. News & World Report19 days ago
Tax Cuts Collide With Inflation as Voters Weigh Trump's Economy in the Midterms
Positive
NYNew York Post25 days ago
Nearly half of inmates released under NC Gov. Roy Cooper during COVID have reoffended -- including 18 charged with murder
Negative
Polls
North Carolina Democratic Senate nominee?
Aggregation source: FiftyPlusOne
Fundraising
Latest report: Cycle 2026Total raisedCash on hand
$26.8M
$20.1M
$13.4M
$6.7M
$0
2026
LatestYear
Total raised
Cash on hand
Total spent
Burn rate
Cycle 2026
$26.8M
$18.5M
$8.4M
$557.8K
Source: FEC
New updates coming soon
We're monitoring and will update when new data impacts the race.
- Endorsements