Latest news with #USSenate
Yahoo
10 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Democrats eye North Carolina as best Senate seat to flip in 2026
WASHINGTON — Democrats are dropping their bids to run for the open Senate seat in North Carolina, clearing the way for former Gov. Roy Cooper in what the party views as its best chance to flip a seat in the upper chamber next November. Cooper formally launched his Senate bid on Monday, making official what Democrats had hoped for months: that the political powerhouse who has previously bested Republicans in close statewide elections can deliver the party a much-needed win. Cooper's candidacy comes as Republicans continue to search for a nominee in what is likely to be one of the most competitive Senate races in the 2026 cycle. 'Right now, our country is facing a moment as fragile as any I can remember, and the decisions we make in the next election will determine if we even have a middle class in America anymore,' Cooper said in an announcement video on Monday. The long-expected Senate run has already shifted the tide for Democrats, with other interested candidates announcing they would withdraw from the race to instead back Cooper. Former Rep. Wiley Nickel, who announced his own candidacy in April, said he would suspend his campaign on Tuesday morning, just one day after Cooper entered the fold. 'I proudly endorse Governor Cooper for US Senate and look forward to doing everything I can to help him flip this Senate seat from red to blue,' Nickel said in a statement. 'I've still got a lot of work left to do; that part hasn't changed. Public service is a part of who I am and you'll hear more from me soon.' Rep. Don Davis, D-N.C., has also considered a run for the Senate seat, although Cooper's presence in the race now makes it unclear if he'll formally launch a bid. Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., announced in June that he would not run for reelection, surprising many of his Republican colleagues and setting the stage for what is considered one of the most competitive races of the midterm cycle. The seat is rated as a 'tossup' by the nonpartisan Cook Political Report and Democrats view it as their best opportunity to flip a Senate seat in 2026. RNC co-Chairman Michael Whatley is reportedly planning to launch a bid after co-chair Lara Trump announced last week she would not throw her hat in the ring. No Republicans have officially announced as of Tuesday. There are 35 seats up for reelection in the Senate next November, with 13 currently held by Democrats and 22 held by Republicans. Of those, seven will be open seats after the incumbent announced they would not run for reelection. Tillis' is among the most competitive, along with the Michigan seat currently held by Sen. Gary Peters, D-Mich., who was the first to reveal he would not run for another term in January. Peters' seat is also considered a tossup.
Politico
13 hours ago
- Politics
- Politico
What the GOP's megabill promotional plan doesn't mention
Former Rep. Wiley Nickel dropped his bid for North Carolina's open Senate seat Tuesday and endorsed Roy Cooper, all but clearing the field for the former Democratic governor. 'I proudly endorse Governor Cooper for US Senate and look forward to doing everything I can to help him flip this Senate seat from red to blue,' said Nickel in a statement. 'I've still got a lot of work left to do; that part hasn't changed. Public service is a part of who I am and you'll hear more from me soon.' Cooper, who formally entered the race Monday, was heavily courted by Democrats, with many in the party seeing him as the most viable candidate for the seat being vacated by retiring Republican Sen. Thom Tillis. Another Democrat who had floated a run, Rep. Don Davis, is also leaning against a bid now that Cooper is in the race. Most Democrats see the race as their best pickup opportunity on next year's otherwise unfriendly Senate map. Among Republicans, RNC chair Michael Whatley is expected to run for the seat with President Donald Trump's support. Trump's daughter-in-law, Lara Trump, had been floated as a potential candidate, though she ultimately opted not to run. Nickel represented a purple House district before opting not to run for reelection last year after Republicans redrew its borders to make it friendlier for the GOP. He kicked off his Senate campaign in April, and while he notched some respectable fundraising totals before Tillis left the race, Cooper's potential entry loomed over his short-lived candidacy. WRAL reported last week Nickel is now instead eyeing a run for district attorney in Wake County, the state's most populous.
Politico
13 hours ago
- Politics
- Politico
Wiley Nickel ends short-lived Senate campaign in N.C.
Former Rep. Wiley Nickel dropped his bid for North Carolina's open Senate seat Tuesday and endorsed Roy Cooper, all but clearing the field for the former Democratic governor. 'I proudly endorse Governor Cooper for US Senate and look forward to doing everything I can to help him flip this Senate seat from red to blue,' said Nickel in a statement. 'I've still got a lot of work left to do; that part hasn't changed. Public service is a part of who I am and you'll hear more from me soon.' Cooper, who formally entered the race Monday, was heavily courted by Democrats, with many in the party seeing him as the most viable candidate for the seat being vacated by retiring Republican Sen. Thom Tillis. Another Democrat who had floated a run, Rep. Don Davis, is also leaning against a bid now that Cooper is in the race. Most Democrats see the race as their best pickup opportunity on next year's otherwise unfriendly Senate map. Among Republicans, RNC chair Michael Whatley is expected to run for the seat with President Donald Trump's support. Trump's daughter-in-law Lara Trump had been floated as a potential candidate, though she ultimately opted not to run. Nickel represented a purple House district before opting not to run for re-election last year after Republicans redrew its borders to make it friendlier for the GOP. He kicked off his Senate campaign in April, and while he notched some respectable fundraising totals before Tillis left the race, Cooper's potential entry loomed over his short-lived candidacy. WRAL reported last week Nickel is now instead eyeing a run for district attorney in Wake County, the state's most populous.
New York Post
a day ago
- Politics
- New York Post
Dem heavyweight Roy Cooper jumps into key US Senate race
Former North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper on Monday officially jumped into the race for US Senate, teeing up a bruising fight for a seat that could tip the balance of power in the upper chamber. Cooper's entrance into the Tar Heel State race is a major win for Democrats, given the two statewide races he won to serve as governor. Now he seems on track to square off against Trump-endorsed Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Whatley, who has yet to formally declare his candidacy. 'Right now, our country is facing a moment as fragile as any I can remember, and the decisions we make in the next election will determine if we even have a middle class in America anymore,' Cooper said during his announcement. 'I never really wanted to go to Washington. I just wanted to serve the people of North Carolina, right here where I've lived all my life. But these are not ordinary times.' 4 Former North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper is hoping to flip a US Senate seat in the state blue for the first time since 2008. X/Roy Cooper 4 Cooper's entrance into his state's US Senate race is a boon for Democrats. X/Roy Cooper The former governor's entry into the race comes just over a month after incumbent GOP Sen. Thom Tillis announced he wouldn't be seeking reelection. Tillis passed on a reelection bid after a high-profile clash with President Trump over the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Tillis was widely considered to be one of the most vulnerable Senate Republicans heading into the 2026 midterm election cycle, alongside Sen. Susan Collins of Maine. North Carolina is generally considered a must-win for Democrats if they are to have any chance of flipping the Senate Democratic in 2026. Cooper is widely seen as their most formidable candidate, though he will have to win a primary first. In his campaign launch video, the ex-gov conveyed a populist message, lamenting how 'for too many Americans, the middle class feels like a distant dream.' Cooper also bashed politicians in Washington, DC, for jacking up the national debt, 'disrespecting our veterans' and cutting government funding for health care. Despite North Carolina being a swing state — meaning it could go either way, given its voters are fairly evenly split between the two parties — Democrats haven't been able to win a Senate race there since 2008. Meanwhile, they've held the governor's mansion since 2017. Cooper narrowly eked out a win by about 0.22 percentage points in 2016, then notched reelection by about 4.5 points. His Democratic successor, Gov. Josh Stein, walloped scandal-scarred Republican Mark Robinson by almost 15 points in November — during the same time that Trump carried the state. 4 Outgoing US Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) said he wants to spend more time with his family. AP Last week, Trump tapped Whatley, who previously helmed the GOP in North Carolina, as his pick for the expected highly competitive race with Cooper. 'Mike would make an unbelievable Senator from North Carolina. He is fantastic at everything he does, and he was certainly great at the RNC where, in the Presidential Election, we won every Swing State, the Popular Vote, and the Electoral College by a landslide,' Trump wrote on Truth Social. That preemptive endorsement came after the president's daughter-in-law, Lara, opted against vying for the Senate seat. A source previously told The Post that Whatley is expected to enter the race. 4 Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Whatley is expected to throw his hat into the ring on the GOP side. AFP via Getty Images Republicans have a 53–47 majority in the Senate and will have to defend 22 of the 35 seats up for grabs in 2026. While North Carolina and Maine are generally seen as the GOP's most vulnerable seats, Democrats have to protect a seat in Georgia held by Sen. Jon Ossoff.
Associated Press
2 days ago
- Politics
- Associated Press
Former Democratic North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper will run for Senate in 2026
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Former Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper will run for the U.S. Senate in North Carolina, giving Democrats a proven statewide winner in an open-seat race that is expected to be one of the most competitive 2026 contests. Cooper made the announcement Monday with a video released on social media and his campaign website. The former two-term governor will immediately become the front-runner for the Democratic nomination in the race to succeed retiring Republican Sen. Thom Tillis. Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Whatley plans to run for the GOP nomination, with President Donald Trump's blessing, according to two people familiar with his thinking who were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly before an official announcement. Whatley, the former North Carolina GOP chairman, received Trump's endorsement after the president's daughter-in-law, Lara Trump, passed on the seat. Cooper's candidacy is a big recruiting win for Democrats, who see the open seat as a top pick-up opportunity in what will be a challenging year. To retake the majority in 2026, Democrats need to net four seats, and most of the contests are in states that Trump easily won last year. Trump won North Carolina by about 3 percentage points, one of his closest margins of victory. Trump endorsed Whatley on his Truth Social platform Thursday night, posting that should he run, 'Mike would make an unbelievable Senator from North Carolina.' Ex-U.S. Rep. Wiley Nickel already has been campaigning for the Democratic nomination for months. Party primaries would be March 3. Cooper, 68, has been on statewide ballots going back a quarter-century — serving 16 years previously as attorney general before being first elected governor in 2016. With a political career going back nearly 40 years, Cooper has had a knack for winning in a state where the legislature and appeals courts are now dominated by Republicans. State law barred Cooper from seeking a third consecutive gubernatorial term. He spent the spring on a teaching gig at Harvard. State and national Democrats were longing for Cooper to join the race well before Tillis announced June 29 that he would not seek a third term. That news came after Trump threatened to back a primary candidate against him as Tillis opposed Medicaid reductions in the president's tax break and spending cut package, Democrats haven't won a Senate race since 2008 in North Carolina, where independent voters tend to vote Republican in federal elections. Statewide races can be financially exorbitant because there are so many television markets — hundreds of millions of dollars are expected to be spent in the race. Cooper's recent political history has painted him as a fighter against what he's considered extreme Republican policies, while at times finding consensus with GOP rivals. When asked by The Associated Press last December about a Senate bid, Cooper replied: 'If you're going to run for public office again, you must have your heart and soul in it, you must have the fire in the belly.' As governor he steered the state through the coronavirus pandemic, Hurricanes Helene and Florence and a law that became an early flashpoint in the culture wars over access to public restrooms by transgender people. That 'bathroom bill' was rolled back early in Cooper's first term, and the state's economy soared during Cooper's tenure, marked by big jobs announcements and low unemployment. While Cooper also managed to get Medicaid expansion approved and a landmark greenhouse gases law enacted, he fell short in stopping legislation that widely expanded private school vouchers and narrowed abortion rights. Cooper's perceived accomplishments raised his national profile in 2024, making him as a potential running mate for Kamala Harris until he said it 'just wasn't the right time' for him and for North Carolina. Republicans have argued that Cooper remains susceptible politically, citing what they consider an extreme record supporting abortion rights and opposing school choice that led to many vetoes. They've also cited a gubernatorial administration marked by spending overruns at the state Department of Transportation; its response to Helene and delays in rebuilding or renovating homes after Hurricanes Matthew and Florence; and executive orders that restricted businesses and school instruction during COVID-19. As for the roaring economy, Republicans credit themselves through lower taxes and deregulation. Tillis' retirement announcement heartened far-right Republicans and strong Trump supporters who have been unhappy for years with his willingness to challenge Trump's actions and his Cabinet agency choices. Republicans had deferred to the president's daughter-in-law Lara Trump, who is a North Carolina native, North Carolina State University graduate and a popular former RNC co-chair with Whatley during the 2024 election campaign. She posted on the social media platform X on Thursday that she would not seek the Senate seat.
