Roy Cooper enters the 2026 Senate race for Tillis’ open seat

Former second term Democratic government. Roy Cooper He is running for the Senate on the North Carolina battlefield.

Cooper announced his candidacy at the open seat race Monday morning, replacing a Republican slow. Tom Tillis, Later last month, it was announced that he would not be reelectioned in the 2026 midterm elections.

“I thought about it and prayed, and I decided: I’m running from North Carolina to become the next US Senator,” Cooper said. Social Media Posts.

The launch of Cooper’s campaign is considered a major coup for Democrats as it was the party’s top recruit in next year’s election, reinforcing the possibility of a critical GOP taking over a massive removal of the majority of Republican senators.

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His announcement was anticipated as many news organizations, including Fox News, recently reported that the former governor would launch a campaign in the coming days.

And this past weekend, at North Carolina’s Democratic “Unity Dinner,” Cooper teased his run during his speech.

When I asked people to stand up whether they were running for the office in 2026, he grabbed cheers and said, “Hey, I’m not sitting, AM.”

The National Republican Senate Committee (NRSC), the campaign division of the Senate GOP, targeted Cooper with digital advertising ahead of his launch.

“Roy Cooper is a Democrat rap dog who blocked President Trump, placed bids for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, released violent and illegal aliens on North Carolina Avenue, defended radical transgender ideology, defended National Republic’s commander-in-communicative superintendent Johnna Rodriguez Church Church Church Church Channa Charge, bids for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, and thwarted President Trump.

Though not the only Democrat to announce their candidacy, former first term MP Wiley Nickel launched the campaign in April, he is immediately considered a clear frontrunner for the party’s nomination. North Carolina.

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Cooper, a popular governor during the eight-year pilot in North Carolina, floated last year as a running companion to then-President Kamala Harris after then-President Joe Biden succeeded as a 2024 presidential candidate.

Cooper could face off in next year’s general election Republican National Committee (RNC) Chairman Michael Wayley will become one of the most competitive, bruisey and expensive Senate fights of 2026.

president Donald Trump, The ultimate kingmaker for GOP Politics, and Republican primary support has been extremely strong, giving Whatley “full and full support” on Thursday.

“Mike will make an incredible senator from North Carolina. He was great in everything he does and he certainly was excellent at the RNC,” Trump added in a social media post.

South Carolina NRSC Speaker, Senate Speaker called Whatley “the first powerful American conservative to become North Carolina’s champion in the US Senate.”

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Scott said, “Tar Heal has supported President Trump in all three elections and has elected Republicans both as US senators for over a decade. Michael will win again in 2026!”

Trump called for Tillis to be announced last month, saying he would not seek a third year term in the Senate on “great news.”

Tillis is a president’s GOP critic, and Trump torched the senator last month and refused to support what is called “big and beautiful” spending and tax cuts bills.

Lala Trump, a North Carolina native who was the president’s daughter-in-law and co-chair of Whatley and the RNC last year, was considered Trump’s best option to run for Tillis’ seat.

However, in a statement Thursday, Lara Trump said, “After much consideration and sincere discussion with family, friends and supporters, I have decided not to pursue a US Senate seat in North Carolina at this point.”

Whatley, who chaired the North Carolina GOP before being elected RNC chair last year, said in a recent Fox News digital interview that the Tar Heel Senate showdown “will be one of the domestic marquee races.”