Roy Cooper and Michael Whatley to Compete for NC’s Open Senate Seat

North Carolina’s U.S. Senate Race: Roy Cooper and Michael Whatley Set to Compete

In the upcoming race for North Carolina’s open U.S. Senate seat, former Governor Roy Cooper and RNC Chairman Michael Whatley are poised to compete. This election is anticipated to be a significant event in the political calendar.

Having successfully secured the governorship in both 2016 and 2020, Cooper demonstrated his ability to win in a state that Donald Trump carried during the same years. This track record has bolstered Senate Democrats’ optimism that Cooper could win again, potentially aiding them in reclaiming the majority.

Cooper’s intention to enter the race was initially reported by Axios.

Michael Bitzer, a political scientist at Catawba College, commented to WRAL, “If you asked any D.C. Democrat who their top choices would be for the party’s nomination in North Carolina, their number one, two, and three picks would be Roy Cooper.”

Michael Whatley, who was appointed as chair of the North Carolina Republican Party before being chosen by Trump to lead the RNC in 2023, is also in the running. His selection by Trump was reportedly due to his endorsement of conspiracy theories about the 2020 election results.

In a November 2020 radio discussion, Whatley asserted, “Regardless of how these lawsuits come out around the country with the presidential race, we do know that there was massive fraud that took place.” He mentioned fraud in cities such as Milwaukee, Detroit, and Philadelphia.

He reiterated a similar viewpoint in January 2021, emphasizing the importance of a “national dialogue on election integrity.” He remarked, “What we saw in places like Milwaukee and Detroit, Philadelphia, Atlanta, and Phoenix is really very, very troubling.”

North Carolina remains notable as the sole battleground state where Vice President Kamala Harris surpassed Joe Biden’s 2020 performance. Despite Trump winning North Carolina by a margin of three points, Democratic Attorney General Josh Stein succeeded in the governor’s race by 14 points. Stein’s victory margin is partly attributed to his opponent, former Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, known for his controversial far-right and inflammatory remarks.

Whatley had endorsed Robinson’s candidacy.

Senator Thom Tillis, a retiring Republican, suggested that Republicans should “learn a lesson” from Robinson’s defeat regarding the risks of leaning too far to the right.

The North Carolina senate race has been classified as a “toss-up” by The Cook Political Report, which closely observes electoral trends.