RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — Former North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper Saturday night gave his strongest indication yet that he would seek an open U.S. Senate seat next year while speaking at a state Democratic Party event in Raleigh.
Cooper, who was the Democratic governor of North Carolina from 2017 to 2025, was among the most-watched speakers at the Unity Dinner hosted by the North Carolina Democratic Party.
The dinner is his first public appearance since talks emerged of a possible U.S. Senate campaign by Cooper.
CBS 17 has reported that Cooper could announce a U.S. Senate run within the next “coming days” after Senator Thom Tillis (R) announced just last week that he will not seek reelection.
Saturday night, during his speech, Cooper indicated he would be running “for office” next year.
“Here’s what I want you to do — everybody who is planning to run for office next year, please stand up. Stand up guys! Let’s give them all a big hand,” Cooper said as he surveyed the room.
Then, he took a few seconds.
“Hey, I’m not sitting down, am I?” Cooper said, grinning widely and chuckling to thunderous applause.
The crowd soon broke out into a pro-Cooper chant.
“Thank you guys! Thank you!” Cooper said.
Aside from Cooper, there have been other names suspected of running for Senate that have roused up both the Democratic and Republican parties. Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Whatley, a North Carolina native, and Lara Trump, his former RNC co-chair and President Donald Trump’s daughter-in-law, were both speculated to have been considering a run.
Although Trump decided Thursday not to enter the race, Whatley announced he will run with the blessing of President Donald Trump.
RNC Chairman Michael Whatley to launch campaign for Senate in North Carolina after Lara Trump rejects run: Sources
For several months, Democrat and former U.S. congressman Wiley Nickel has put his hat back into the ring to run. However, sources close to the former congressman told CBS 17 on Friday that his campaign for the Senate seat will be suspended next week with plans to fully endorse Cooper.
On Saturday night, it was Cooper who took in the applause after hinting at his campaign for the open North Carolina U.S. Senate seat.
“Now, for almost seven months I have been out of office, and I have been reading and watching media reports and guys, we know it isn’t pretty,” Cooper said.
He pointed out recent defunding in healthcare, SNAP programs, and tax breaks for the wealthy.
“But this beautiful experiment we call democracy, it only works when we work for it, which means everyone needs to stay engaged and find a way to do something,” Cooper said.
Democrats, on Saturday, kept up their fight to turn North Carolina “blue,” claiming Cooper would be the best fit for the job.
“You can tell by the enthusiasm in the room that he is someone that the party across North Carolina will be thrilled to have as our candidate,” said Justice Anita Earls.
Coopers’ official announcement for Senate is expected next week.
