Former Governor Roy Cooper is officially entering the 2026 U.S. Senate race, aiming to succeed Republican Senator Thom Tillis, who is not seeking re-election. Cooper, a Democrat who served two terms as governor, confirmed his plans during a speech at the North Carolina Democratic Party’s Unity Dinner over the weekend, drawing enthusiastic chants of “Run Roy, run!” from supporters.

Cooper highlighted his record on expanding Medicaid, increasing teacher pay, and protecting abortion access, saying Washington needs leadership that puts “people over politics.” His campaign formally launched on Monday in a video posted to social media.

The Senate race is already drawing national attention. Republicans are lining up behind Michael Whatley, current chair of the Republican National Committee, who has been endorsed by former President Donald Trump. A super PAC aligned with Senate Republicans has already started running ads targeting Cooper, branding him “Radical Roy.”

Democrats see Cooper as one of their strongest recruits for 2026 in a key battleground state. Early polling shows him with a slight edge in a head-to-head matchup. With national control of the Senate at stake, the North Carolina race is expected to be one of the most competitive in the country.