Polling Average
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58.5%
19%
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$88.0M
NOV 7, 2028Primary Election
Party selects its nominee.
Current roleU.S. Senator
PartyDemocratic
Political ideologyModerate Democrat
Age68 years old (Jun 13, 1957)
GenderMale
LocationNorth Carolina
BackgroundAttorney
EducationUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (B.A., 1979)
Notable personal detailsRoy Asberry Cooper III is an American lawyer and politician who served as the 75th governor of North Carolina from 2017 to 2025. He previously served four terms as North Carolina attorney general (2001–2017) and was a member of the North Carolina Senate and House of Representatives. He earned his B.A. and J.D. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Roy Cooper is running for U.S. Senate in North Carolina and is campaigning against Republican Michael Whatley in an open-seat race after Sen. Thom Tillis announced his retirement. Cooper recently campaigned in Fayetteville and attacked Whatley over his individual oil stock holdings while pitching an economic message focused on lowering costs. The contest is drawing heavy national attention and spending, with outside groups planning major investments and most polling cited showing Cooper ahead.
Endorsers of Roy Cooper for North Carolina Republican Senate nominee?
Public figure
Wiley Nickel endorsed Roy Cooper for U.S. Senate in North Carolina.
Public figure
Anderson Clayton endorsed Roy Cooper for U.S. Senate in North Carolina.
2026
LatestCycle 2026
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.