Former North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper is running for U.S. Senate. Andy Weber/Axios
"Politicians in D.C. are running up our debt, ripping away our health care, disrespecting our veterans, cutting help for the poor and even putting Medicare and Social Security at risk — just to give tax breaks to billionaires. That's wrong, and I've had enough."
— Roy Cooper
As expected, former North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper (D) is officially running for U.S. Senate, he announced in a video Monday.
It's a significant recruiting win for Democrats, who need to net four seats to retake the Senate in 2026, AP reported.
Why it matters: The two-term governor, who's never lost an election, becomes the frontrunner for the Democratic nomination in the race to succeed Republican Sen. Thom Tillis, who said last month he won't seek reelection.
RNC chair Michael Whatley, whom President Trump endorsed, plans to run for the GOP nomination.
