Trending Now - Roy Cooper Aims to Break North Carolina Senate Election Trends

WHO:

Roy Cooper, Democrat, Governor of North Carolina

Michael Whatley, Republican, former Republican National Committee chairman, candidate for U.S. Senate

Donald Trump, President of the United States, endorsed Whatley

Pat McCrory, former Governor of North Carolina, Republican

Martha Goodson, 71, voter

Kevin Cattell, 71, voter

WHAT:

Roy Cooper and Michael Whatley won their party's primaries on March 5th, 2026.

The Senate race in North Carolina is expected to draw hundreds of millions in campaign spending.

Trump highlighted the fatal stabbing of Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska during his State of the Union address.

Whatley stated, “His leadership has changed our country, and I am proud to stand with him in the fight to secure our border, to strengthen our economy and put America first.”

Whatley claimed, “Roy Cooper chose criminal illegal aliens over North Carolina communities” during his nomination acceptance speech.

Cooper noted he persuaded the Republican-controlled General Assembly to expand Medicaid coverage.

WHERE:

North Carolina, United States

Raleigh, North Carolina, location of the political campaign

WHEN:

March 5th, 2026, date of the party primaries

2022, year when Pat McCrory ran against Ted Budd for the Republican Senate nomination

WHY:

Cooper aims to change the historical trend of North Carolina electing Democrats as governors but not to the U.S. Senate.

Republicans want to frame Cooper as too far left for a state that Trump won three times.

HOW:

Whatley and his supporters began an advertising campaign during the primary.

Cooper plans to work with Trump when it makes sense, aiming to appeal to both Democratic and some Republican voters.

(UPDATED March 8, 2026 23:01 UTC)

In a significant political development, Roy Cooper and Michael Whatley both secured victories in their party's primaries in North Carolina on March 5, 2026, with President Trump endorsing Whatley. During his nomination acceptance speech, Whatley criticized Cooper for prioritizing what he called "criminal illegal aliens" over North Carolina communities, while Cooper highlighted his success in persuading the Republican-controlled General Assembly to expand Medicaid coverage. As the Senate race heats up, it is expected to draw hundreds of millions in campaign spending, with both candidates aiming to appeal to a diverse voter base in a state that has historically elected Democratic governors but not U.S. Senators.