Former NC Governor Roy Cooper announced Monday, July 7th that he is running in 2026 for the open US Senate seat now filled by Senator Thom Tillis. Senator Tillis announced he will not be seeking reelection after breaking with Trump on the Big Ugly Bill.

Environmental Advocates Celebrate Cooper’s Record

Cooper’s announcement sparked celebration among advocates for clean energy and environment, who have recognized him as an environmental champion throughout 16 years of service as the Attorney General and then Governor of North Carolina (2009-2025). Cooper received the endorsement of the NC League of Conservation Voters in each of his four successful bids for statewide office.

Leading political analysts rate North Carolina’s Senate seat in the “tossup” category for 2026, and one of the few likely to determine control of the Senate for the second half of Donald Trump’s last term as president. Based on his record of successful statewide campaigns, his successes in office, and his continuing high approval ratings, Roy Cooper is regarded as the strongest possible Democratic candidate for the Senate in 2026. 

A High-Stakes Race in 2026

Additionally, Cooper’s announcement created immediate movement in the Republican field to replace Tillis. Trump’s daughter-in-law Lara Trump, who had been considering a bid for the seat, withdrew herself from consideration. The current chair of the Republican National Committee, Michael Whatley, indicated that he intends to run for the seat. 

Who is Michael Whatley?

Whatley has no previous experience in elected office, and therefore no direct voting record from which to draw his personal stances on environmental and other issues. However, as the chair of the Republican Nation Committee (RNC) he has been an enthusiastic backer of Donald Trump, and he has already drawn Trump’s public backing in this Senate contest even before Whatley’s own formal announcement of candidacy. Given Trump’s unmatched record as the most anti-environment president in modern American history, that may tell us everything we need to know about the issue positions he would take as a Senator. For long-term observers of North Carolina politics, it’s also noteworthy that Whately’s first reported foray into politics was volunteering for the re-election campaign of then-Senator Jesse Helms in 1984. 

For younger voters, Jesse Helms was the Dixiecrat turned Republican Senator who began his own political career as the publicity director for segregationist Willis Smith in his successful 1950 Democratic primary campaign for Senate against a more progressive Democrat. Helms served in the Senate for 30 years, and remained a dedicated opponent of civil rights, environmentalism, feminism, LGBTQ rights, and all else that he regarded as “liberal” throughout his career. His campaigns were noteworthy for explicitly racist themes. 

Cooper’s Environmental Record

In contrast, NCLCV has repeatedly praised Roy Cooper’s record over his years of state-level public service.

“We are excited to see a clean energy economy champion enter the race for the U.S. Senate,” said Dan Crawford, director of governmental relations at NCLCV. “Governor Cooper exemplified bold, consistent leadership in tackling climate change, expanding clean energy, and standing up for ratepayers and communities most harmed by pollution.

“Under his leadership, North Carolina rose to #9 nationally in clean energy jobs, and became the #1 state in the country for rural clean energy employment.

“While NCLCV does not engage in federal elections, we look forward to the work of the League of Conservation Voters – our national affiliate – in the coming months as this race takes shape.”

Governor Cooper’s Record

Some of Governor Cooper’s greatest achievements include:

• During his first term as Governor, Gov. Cooper’s Executive Order 80 called for a plan to move North Carolina to 100% clean energy by 2050. “Gov. Cooper’s environmental leadership has been a breath of fresh air for every North Carolinian, and he has more than lived up to the promise we saw in him four years ago,” said Carrie Clark, NCLCV executive director. “His veto pen has stopped the General Assembly’s worst environmental legislation, and he has charted a bold path toward a clean energy future that will ward off the worst impacts of climate change.” 
• Cooper’s executive order 305 in 2024 called for protection of North Carolina’s wetlands in the wake of the catastrophic US Supreme Court decision stripping federal protections from most wetlands. The Cooper executive order also set goals for conservation and restoration of millions of acres of forests and wetlands by 2040. 
• Cooper received a strong A grade from NCLCV in 2023 for his work fighting the pro-polluter abuses of the legislature through vetoes, executive orders, and public education work. 
• Cooper’s legacy of promoting clean energy during his two terms as governor were celebrated at the conclusion of his second term in 2024.