Len’s Political Note #744 Roy Cooper North Carolina US Senator

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August 7th                       Len’s Political Note #744 Roy Cooper North Carolina US Senator

2026                                 General Election

 Leo Durocher, a son of Western Massachusetts where I lived and worked for more than 30 years, is said to have said: Nice guys finish last.  (For those who don’t google, Durocher was best known for managing the Brooklyn Dodgers and the New York Giants baseball teams)

In North Carolina, when Roy Cooper runs for office, a nice guy always finishes first and Roy Cooper always wins.  Billy Ball, author of the newsletter The Living South, wrote about Roy Cooper at the end of July when the Senate candidacy announcement was imminent.  Ball mentioned Roy Cooper’s elections as a state legislator, as attorney general, and governor.  He focused on the letter Roy Cooper sent him when Ball’s son died, a letter that was thoughtful, from the heart, and clearly written by the politician, not by a staffer.  Roy Cooper is a ”decent” man, says Billy Ball.  Roy Cooper is a “kind” man says Billy Ball.

That does not mean that Roy Cooper has been ineffective.  Nor does it mean Roy Cooper has not been tough.  Born in Nashville, North Carolina, the son of a tobacco farmer and close advisor to four-time Democratic North Carolina governor, Jim Hunt, Roy Cooper was awarded a Morehead Scholarship to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.  Tabbed, by virtue of that scholarship,  as a future leader, the Morehead supported internships and international travel as well as his college educataion.  Roy Cooperstayed put for law school, continued his studies at UNC.

While still at law school, Roy Cooper was appointed to state advisory boards and commissions.  Upon graduation from law school in 1982, he joined his father’s law firm.  Three years later, he became a partner.  In 1984, he chaired a Democratic campaign for governor.  Didn’t win, though.

In 1986, he primaried a 12 term Democrat in the State House of Representatives.  Roy Cooper won that race by a 3-1 margin, promising to solve a school district consolidation dispute.  He remained in the House until 1991.

Early in 1991, the local state senator died.  Roy Cooper was selected to fill the vacancy.  He stayed until 2001, winning elections along the way.  During his time as a legislator, he solved the school consolidation issue and some other education issues including creating penalties for kids who brought guns to school.  His other accomplishments included creating, on the second try, a referendum to amend the constitution so that the governor had the authority to veto bills.

In 2000, he was elected to the office that appeared to be his home.  He was elected Attorney General four times, serving in that role for 16 years, running without opposition for his final term.  He handled several complicated issues.  Retaining his education interest, he arranged for legislation to provide tutoring for students who were on suspension. He got federal investigators to address police/political corruption fixing speeding tickets and the like.

In 2007, Roy Cooper took over the Duke lacrosse team scandal from which the DA recused himself. Roy Cooper won praise for quickly dismissing the case against team players and revealing evidence that had been withheld by the DA.  He was praised for his response to the Virginia Tech shootings later in 2007 and followed up the exoneration of a prisoner held for 17 years, found guilty in part because the State Bureau of Investigation had suppressed evidence. Under his authority, they found 230 cases that had been affected by withheld evidence.

Only in 2014 was he subject to some criticism.  Republican Governor Pat  McCrory called Roy Cooper’scriticism of Duke Energy for a serious coal ash spill the politicization of an accident.  And then McCrory claimed Roy Cooper was opposing efforts to clean up the spill.

Roy Cooper ran for governor against the incumbent in 2016.  McCrory was on the defensive.  His signing what we now call a “bathroom” law had created a backlash against McCrory as some corporations refused to locate in the state and some conventions refused to select North Carolina as a site.  Only ten years ago, a law restricting public bathrooms to the gender of your birth was seen as anti-corporate.  Being anti-corporate was a pretty big offense in North Carolina.

Roy Cooper won the election. It was very close.  He won by slightly more than 10,000 votes out of 4.7 million votes cast — a .22% margin.  Roy Cooper won again in 2020.  This time by 4.5%.  His tenure as governor was filled with difficult struggles with the legislature.  For most of his tenure, the legislature, through gerrymandering, had a supermajority of Republicans who could override his vetoes.

Jennifer Rubin of The Bulwark points out that Roy Cooper had a 60% approval rating when he left office as Governor.  She added that despite an oppositional legislature which sought to take away his power and stop his agenda, he was able to get the legislature to overturn the bathroom law, pass a climate bill that moved the state’s utilities toward becoming carbon neutral, expand Medicaid, and raise teacher salaries.

This is not to say that every organization in the state fawned on him.  The North Carolina Chamber of Commerce was bitterly angry at Roy Cooper’s claim that they had favored racial discrimination.  The legislature, not a politically neutral body,  investigated Roy Cooper’s effort to ensure that the owners of a planned pipeline set aside funds to mitigate any adverse effects.  Shockingly and illegally, according to the legilsature, he held up permits to ensure the funds were set aside.

Michael Whatley will be the Republican nominee.  Never previously elected to public office, the former head of the North Carolina Republican Party and the former chair of the Republican National Committee, he had Donald Trump’s endorsement before he had announced.

Whately’s most recent battle with North Carolina Democrats was in the federal courts.  He lost an effort to eliminate votes from military voters and other overseas voters, but only in certain specific Democratic jurisdictions. It took six months until a federal court ensured that Allison Riggs could take her proper place on North Carolina’s Supreme Court.

Roy Cooper should defeat this MAGA candidate.  Some would say Whatley is more loyal to Trump than to North Carolina.  Both Roy Cooper and Michael Whatley announced their candidacy after second quarter financial reports were published.  The only thing we know about the financial aspect of the campaign is that Roy Cooper announced that he raised $3.4 million in the 24 hours after he announced.  In the most recent North Carolina US Senate race, more than $60 million was spent on behalf of the Democratic candidate; nearly $90 million was spent on behalf of the Republican.

I urge you to DONATE to the Roy Cooper campaign.  Pile on.  Get far enough ahead early so the Republicans do not make North Carolina a priority.  If Roy Cooper can get far enough ahead of the game, North Carolina can be the first of the four Senate Seats Democrats flip to gain control of the Senate.

 THE PATH TO A DEMOCRATIC SENATE

DEMOCRATIC SEATS TO DEFEND

Jon Ossoff

  1. Georgia: Jon Ossoff is the incumbent.  See Len’s Political Note #713 At the end of the second quarter, his Cash on Hand (COH) was $15.5 million. DONATE. Two of his announced opponents – Congressman Buddy Carter and Congressman Mike Collins reported, respectively, their COH was $4 million and $1 million. A third candidate, not yet announced, may be Derek Dooley, a football coach and son of the University of Georgia football coach.

Haley Stevens

  1. Michigan: Gary Peters retired. Democratic candidates and their COH and the end of the second quarter are County commissioner Abdul El-Sayed (COH $1.1 million), State Senator Mallory McMorrow (COH $800,000) and Congresswoman Haley Stevens $2 million). I have not yet written an advocacy piece for this seat,. At this point, I suggest donating to Haley Stevens.  The Republican candiudate, . former Congressman Mike Rogers had $2.4 million COH.

Angie Craig

  1. Minnesota: Tina Smith retired. Two Democrats have announced:  Congresswoman Angie Craig (COH $1.8 million) and Lt. Governor Peggy Flanagan (COH $800,000.  I have not yet written an advocacy piece fo this seat, but, at this point, suggest donating to Angie Craig.  Republicans have three announced candidates: former NBA player Royce White (COH $200,000) and two candidates for whom there are no reports — Navy SEAL vet Adam Schwarze and former sportscaster Michele Tafoya.

            Chris Pappas

  1. New Hampshire: Jeanne Shaheen retired. Chris Pappaswill be the Democratic nominee. His COH at the end of the second quarter is $2 million. DONATE.  Two Republicans have announced —   former US Senator from Massachusetts Scott Brown and State Senator Dan Innis.  Neither has a financial report.

Of the remaining Democrats up for election, it is hard to imagine any of those nine being in jeopardy.  But, to have a chance of gaining a majority Democrats really do have to win every one of those four seats that are in jeopardy and flip four Republican seats.

 

REPUBLICANS HAVE MORE SEATS UP FOR ELECTION AND MORE SEATS THAT ARE IN SOME JEOPARDY

Republicans have more seats up for election, and more that are in some jeopardy

Roy Cooper

  1. North Carolina: Incumbent Republican Thom Tillis retired. Former Governor Roy Cooper has announced his candidacy for the US Senate. He will be the Democratic nominee. Former Congressman Wiley Nickel, who had $800,000 COH, has withdrawn.  DONATE to Roy Cooper’s President Trump has endorsed former Republican National Committee Chair Michael Whatley, who has just announced.  Other Republican candidates to date are: Engineer and author Brooks Agnew, Attorney Dan Brown, and Businessman Andy Nilsson.  None of them made a financial report.  It is possible that none of them will last.

Jordan Wood

  1. Maine: Incumbent Republican Susan Collins.  Democrat Jordan Wood, a former Congressional staffer, has announced and has  COH $800,000. DONATE..

Jordan Wood may be the nominee.  If he is, he will need an extraordinary effort to raise enough money to compete with Susan Collins if she does, indeed run.  She has not yet announced but has $5.3 million COH.  Janet Mills, the term limited, combative, and popular governor of Maine seems to have softened her resistance to running for the Senate.  As important as money for Jordan Wood, contact Governor Janet Mills and urge her to run for the Senate.  https://www.maine.gov/governor/mills/contact

JD Scholten

  1. Iowa: Incumbent Republican Joni Ernst. Democrats have three candidates. State Rep JD ScholtenCOH $50,000.  See Len’s Political Note #733. DONATE. Local Chamber of Commerce Director Nathan Sage COH $300,000.  And State Senator Zack Wahls COH $600,000. It is not possible to run a successful campaign for the US Senate, even in a relatively small state like Iowa without resources.  If JD Scholten cannot raise more funds, I will have led you wrong by urging his support – appealing as he is.   The Republican incumbent, despite her memorably  offensive remarks at an angry Town Hall, is still competing.  COH $3.4 million. Her only Republican primary opponent, State Senator Jim Carlin, reported $700 COH for the end of the second quarter.

Dan Osborn

  1. Nebraska Incumbent Republican Senator and former Governor, Pete Ricketts was a member of the family trust that owns the Chicago Cubs. He reported an end of the second quarter COH of $1.5 million.  Independent Dan Osborn reported COH of $100,000.  He had led a strike against Kellogg’s before his 2024 run for the Senate against Incumbent Deb Fischer, a race he lost 53 – 47. Democrats will again defer to his candidacy and not name a candidate. DONATE to Dan Osborn’s   See Len’s Political Note #614 written for the 2024 race.

Sherrod Brown

  1. Ohio: Incumbent Republican John Husted.  No Democrats with political experience have announced.  Democratic members of congress may be waiting to see if Ohio’s redistricting kicks them out of a job.  They or other Democrats may be waiting to see if former US Senator Sherrod Brown, voted out of office in 2024, decides he wants to run to get back in the Senate.  The incumbent, the former Republican Lt. Governor, was appointed to this seat which was previously held by Vice President JD Vance.  Husted did not file a financial report even though he has announced his candidacy and has been endorsed by Donald Trump.

Colin Allred

  1. Texas: Incumbent Republican John Cornyn.  In a recent poll, former Democratic Congressman Colin Allred led announced Democratic candidates and candidates with a reasonable possibility of announcing among fellow Democrats.  However, Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett, who is not a candidate, led Colin Allred 35-20.  Most Democrats expect that announced candidates Colin Allred (COH $55,000) will win the primary, though former Astronaut Terry Virts (COH $85,000} is also an interesting candidate.  The Democratic race is sufficiently unsettled so that Congressman Joaquin Castro or former Congressman Beto O’Rourke or former San Antonio mayor Ron Nirenberg or even Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett or even phenom State Rep James Talarico could get in the race.  The Republican is only two candidates, but it is a better contest.  Incumbent John Cornyn (COH $5.9 million)  is facing a primary against the Attorney General Ken Paxton (COH $2.5 million).  Paxton is leading in the polls, but some Republicans fear that he is not electable to the US Senate.

Democrats must raise enough money to win four of the above six races. 

Of the remaining seats that are up for election, a few could conceivably be in jeopardy

Josh Weil

  1. Florida: Appointed Republican incumbent and former Attorney General Ashley Moody faces teacher Josh Weil who overperformed in a congressional special election.   Moody has no financial report; Weil’s COH was $200,000.    See Len’s Political Note #704 written for the special election.

Laura Kelly

  1. Kansas: Republican Incumbent and medical doctor Roger Marshall (COH $2.7 million). No Democrats have yet announced, though former Obama Administration official Christy Davis is considering as is state Senator Cindy Holscher.  Perhaps they are both waiting to see if term limited popular governor Laura Kelly will change her mind and run for the Senate.

Stephen Colbert.            Annie Andrews

  1. South Carolina: Lindsey Graham    Three Democrats have announced. While Activist Catherine Fleming Bruce reported only $5,000 COH, contractor Lee Johnson reported $450,000, and pediatrician Annie Andrews reported $700,000. DONATE to Lee Johnson.  DONATE to Annie Andrews.   The Democrats are, nevertheless, far behind.  Incumbent Lindsey Graham reported $16 Million COH.   One of his two primary opponents, Businessman Mark Lynch reported $5 million – enough to put up a fight against Graham.  Another potential primary opponent, former Lt. Governor Andre Bauer reported on $50,000 COH for the second quarter. Republicans have come up with a new figure – Paul Dans, the initiator of Project 2025, the comprehensive and extreme governing plan that Donald Trump has been following.  There is one other potential candidate, a new Democratic figure. In 2008, he ran, as a joke, in the presidential primary of his home state – South Carolina. And then withdrew. Stephen Colbert’s current confrontation with politics is no joke.  Few Americans and no famous American have had a more direct confrontation with the American drift to an Authoritarian presidency.  I have not yet heard a Steve Colbert candidacy being broached.  So – I am broaching it here.

Barack Obama would do us all a favor if he would dip back into politics just long enough persuade some great candidate to runs: Joe Biden could take a crack at it, too.

            Governor Janet Mills of Maine

            Governor Laura Kelly of Kansas

            Former US Senator Sherrod Brown of Ohio

            Television personality Stephen Colbert