Cooper, Whatley set up N.C. Senate showdown

Between the lines: Cooper, who points to Medicaid expansion as one of his pivotal achievements as governor of North Carolina, has homed in on affordability as a central part of his campaign messaging.

• Whatley has attacked Cooper over his Hurricane Helene response and painted him as soft on crime and immigration.

The intrigue: Cooper, a moderate who spent 16 years as North Carolina's attorney general before becoming a two-time governor, has never lost an election.

What they're saying: "There's no doubt — we've got our work cut out for us. But North Carolinians have always given me hope and that's what's going to get us across the finish line," Cooper said on X Tuesday night.

• "This November, North Carolina voters will have a choice: Safer Communities, Secure Borders, More Jobs and Lower Costs or Roy Cooper's failed record," Whatley posted.

Zoom out: Republicans currently hold a 53-45 majority in the Senate. Democrats see North Carolina, along with Maine, Alaska and Ohio, as potential pathways to gain the majority, PBS News reported.

Editor's note: We've updated this story with additional details as they become available.