RALEIGH, N.C. (WGHP) — Former Governor Roy Cooper may launch a Senate campaign as early as next week.
According to Axios, “multiple sources” have said that Cooper intends to announce the long-speculated run for the seat currently occupied by Republican Thom Tillis in the United States Senate.
Democrats believe Cooper, who served two terms as North Carolina’s governor after a stint as the attorney general, has a chance to flip the seat from the Republicans, especially in the wake of Tillis’s decision not to seek reelection and his ideological split from Republicans on many issues.
As his term-limited time as governor wound down, Cooper was presented as a possible vice presidential running mate for Kamala Harris in 2024, but ultimately that position went to Governor Tim Walz and Cooper accepted a position with Harvard.
Former Democratic Representative Wiley Nickel has also announced his intention to run in the Senate race, following the redistricting that impacted his time in the House of Representatives.
Lara Trump, President Donald Trump’s daughter-in-law, has been floated as a potential candidate for the seat on the GOP’s side of things.
“Certainly, Roy Cooper will be able to raise a ton of money just on his past experience, but throw in a competitor with the last name of Trump, and that will probably escalate the money war to an even greater level,” said Catawba College Political Science Professor Michael Bitzer. “Maybe perhaps the most expensive U.S. Senate seat contest. In terms of this midterm election cycle, we could potentially be breaking the bank in terms of historic records as well.”
