Cooper faces Whatley in NC Senate race

Former North Carolina governor Roy Cooper will face Republican Michael Whatley on Tuesday in a contest for an open U.S. Senate seat. Cooper, who has not lost a statewide election, aims to break a pattern of Republican dominance in the state's Senate representation.

The race has drawn national attention because Democrats need to win four additional seats to take control of the Senate. Cooper is considered one of the party's top candidates for that goal. The seat became open after incumbent Thom Tillis announced his retirement following a disagreement with President Donald Trump last year.

Cooper is 69 years old and serves as the first Democrat in decades to challenge a Republican in this particular district. He previously won four terms as state attorney general and two terms as governor. A loss in this race would end his political career with his first statewide defeat.

Whatley, 58, has never held elected office. He served as both state and national party chair for the Republican Party. Fundraising data shows Whatley has trailed Cooper in the race. Republican leaders moved campaign funds away from North Carolina in October, signaling low confidence in Whatley's prospects.

Cooper has campaigned on economic issues, specifically promising to lower costs for residents. He has criticized President Trump's tariffs and the war with Iran. Cooper has avoided personal attacks in his ads, describing his approach as bipartisan.

At a recent rally, Cooper explained his motivation for running. He said he saw the current administration create daily chaos that reached new levels. He stated, "Man, I've got to do something about this." He pledged to be a strong, independent senator for North Carolina if elected.

Whatley has aligned himself closely with President Trump. He has not attempted to distance his brand from the president, unlike some other Republican candidates. Whatley welcomed Trump and Vice President JD Vance to the state for multiple campaign events.

Whatley described the presence of Trump at a metro Charlotte rally as an honor. He called Trump the greatest president of their lifetime. The campaign has focused on promoting Trump's tax cut legislation and accusing Cooper of being soft on violent crime.

President Trump has amplified those accusations. He described North Carolina cities as blood-soaked killing fields during a rally in the Charlotte area. FBI statistics place the state's violent crime rate in the middle third of all states. Trump also blamed Cooper for the state's response to Hurricane Helene in 2024, claiming the governor did nothing to help victims.

Cooper rejected the accusation regarding the storm. He pointed to the collaboration between state, local, and federal governments during the recovery efforts. The challenge for Whatley is to maximize Republican turnout while appealing to the state's large population of independent voters. Independents currently outnumber both registered Democrats and Republicans in North Carolina.