{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\n\nRoy Asberry Cooper III is the Democratic nominee for the United States Senate from North Carolina in the November 3, 2026 general election; the North Carolina State Board of Elections lists one U.S. Senate seat on that statewide ballot [3]. The Federal Election Commission records him as a Democratic candidate for an open North Carolina Senate seat, candidate ID S6NC00407, with Cooper for North Carolina (C00913566) as his principal campaign committee [1].\n\nIn the March 3, 2026 primary, Cooper received 761,345 of the 827,755 votes recorded across the six candidates in the Democratic contest, ahead of Justin E. Dues (22,295), Marcus W. Williams (20,336), Daryl Farrow (9,727), Orrick Quick (7,275) and Robert Colon (6,777), according to the State Board of Elections' official precinct results. Michael Whatley led the Republican primary with 405,140 votes [2]. Whatley is Cooper's general-election opponent; WRAL reported that the Cook Political Report designates the race a toss-up and that Republicans have won 10 of the last 12 U.S. Senate elections in the state [4].\n\nFEC filings covering July 25, 2025 through June 30, 2026 report $34,975,789.18 in total receipts for his campaign committee, $14,258,221.92 in disbursements and $20,717,567.26 cash on hand, including $13.1 million in individual contributions and $19.8 million transferred from other authorized committees [1].\n\nHis campaign platform is organized, in its own words, around a \"Make Stuff Cost Less\" agenda covering groceries, health care, energy, child care and housing [6]. The campaign says he would \"Support Our Farmers and Stop Chaotic Tariffs,\" arguing that \"[t]ariffs drive up costs on farmers who have to pass the costs along to restaurants, groceries stores and hardworking North Carolinians,\" and would \"End the chaotic trade wars that have driven up the costs of construction materials like lumber, aluminum and steel\" [6]. Other planks listed include reinstating Affordable Care Act tax credits and reversing Medicaid cuts, banning \"algorithm-driven rent setting,\" and blocking \"anti-competitive mergers\" in grocery retail and food processing [6]. At a campaign stop covered by WRAL, Cooper said, \"I'm running for the hard-working parent who is tired of seeing higher costs at the grocery store,\" and \"If you want change in Washington, this campaign is for you. If you want to toss out the D.C. insiders, this campaign is for you\" [4].\n\n## Background and education\n\nCooper was born June 13, 1957 [7]. He is a Nash County native who practiced law in Rocky Mount and holds bachelor's and law degrees from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill [8]. His campaign biography states that he \"was born and raised in Nash County, North Carolina, where he attended public schools and worked summers on the farm,\" that his mother was a public-school teacher, and that \"[f]or years, he taught Sunday School and tutored students in local public schools\" [5].\n\n## Office history\n\nWRAL reports that Cooper was elected to the North Carolina House in 1986 and appointed to the state Senate four years later, becoming Senate majority leader in 1997 [8]; WRAL's 2026 account gives his service as 1987 to 1991 in the House and 1991 to 2001 in the Senate [4]. He was elected attorney general in 2000 and served four four-year terms as head of the Department of Justice, an office that \"oversees the State Crime Lab, represents consumers in complaints and is responsible for defending the state in court\" [8].\n\nCooper was sworn in as North Carolina's 75th governor on January 1, 2017 [8]. The National Governors Association records his two terms as January 1, 2017 to December 31, 2020 and January 1, 2021 to January 1, 2025 [7]. In the 2016 general election he defeated incumbent Republican Pat McCrory by 2,309,157 votes to 2,298,880 \u2014 a margin of 10,277 \u2014 with Libertarian Lon Cecil receiving 102,977, per the State Board of Elections' official precinct results [9]. In 2020 he was re-elected over Republican Dan Forest, 2,834,790 to 2,586,604, with Libertarian Steven J. DiFiore at 60,449 and Constitution Party candidate Al Pisano at 20,934 [10]. WRAL reported in 2026 that Cooper \"has never lost an election in nearly 50 years as a candidate\" [4].\n\n## Legislative record and accomplishments\n\n**Medicaid expansion.** Cooper signed House Bill 76 on March 27, 2023; it became Session Law 2023-7 [11], titled \"AN ACT to provide north carolina citizens with greater access to healthcare options\" [12]. The N.C. Department of Health and Human Services reported that expansion launched December 1, 2023, that more than 600,000 people enrolled in the first year \u2014 reaching a two-year enrollment target in one year \u2014 that nearly 300,000 people already receiving Medicaid Family Planning benefits were enrolled immediately, and that more than 217,183 rural residents gained coverage [13]. Cooper said in that announcement: \"From day one, we set out to get people covered and get them care. Now, more than 600,000 people have the peace of mind that they can go to the doctor, get needed medications and manage their chronic health conditions \u2014 that's life-changing\" [13].\n\n**House Bill 2 repeal.** On March 30, 2017 Cooper signed House Bill 142, enacted as Session Law 2017-4 and titled \"aN act to reset s.l. 2016-3,\" which repealed S.L. 2016-3 and S.L. 2016-99 [14]. The same law preempted state agencies, the University of North Carolina, the community college system and local governments from \"regulation of access to multiple occupancy restrooms, showers, or changing facilities, except in accordance with an act of the General Assembly,\" and provided that \"[n]o local government in this State may enact or amend an ordinance regulating private employment practices or regulating public accommodations\" \u2014 a provision the act set to expire on December 1, 2020 [14].\n\n**Clemency.** On December 31, 2024 Cooper commuted the sentences of 15 death row inmates to life without possibility of parole, reducing pending death sentences in the state from 136 to 121. NC Newsline reported the action brought him to 34 pardons and 43 commutations in office, \"the most extensive use of clemency powers by any North Carolina governor in the 21st century\" [20]. Cooper said in a statement: \"These reviews are among the most difficult decisions a Governor can make and the death penalty is the most severe sentence that the state can impose. After thorough review, reflection, and prayer, I concluded that the death sentence imposed on these 15 people should be commuted, while ensuring they will spend the rest of their lives in prison\" [20].\n\n**Hurricane Helene.** On October 23, 2024 Cooper said Helene caused an estimated $53.6 billion in damage in North Carolina and asked the General Assembly for $3.9 billion in state aid, calling it a \"down payment on western North Carolina's future.\" He said, \"It is no exaggeration to describe Helene as the deadliest and most damaging storm to ever hit North Carolina\" [21].\n\nIn his December 18, 2024 farewell address, Cooper cited Medicaid expansion, clean energy investment, medical-debt relief and public education, saying, \"We have restored our reputation as a welcoming place, where people can thrive, innovate and grow\" [19]. His campaign biography credits his governorship with \"thousands of new jobs,\" \"hundreds of bipartisan bills,\" Medicaid coverage that \"in early 2025 has already brought health care to more than 650,000 North Carolinians,\" and a plan \"to relieve more than $4 billion of existing medical debt for 2 million eligible North Carolinians\" [5].\n\n## Documented disputes and controversies\n\nNC Newsline reported at the close of his tenure that Cooper \"has used the veto pen more than any governor in North Carolina history \u2014 and many of those vetoes have been overridden in response\" [19].\n\n**Abortion law, 2023.** Cooper vetoed Senate Bill 20 on May 14, 2023; the General Assembly overrode the veto and the measure became Session Law 2023-14 on May 16, 2023 [15], titled \"AN ACT to make various changes to health care laws and to appropriate funds for health care programs\" [16]. NC Newsline reported that the bill \"bans most abortions after 12 weeks, with exceptions for rape, incest, 'life-limiting fetal anomalies,' and emergencies,\" that Cooper's veto \"was canceled in party-line votes in both the House and Senate,\" and that he had held events across the state trying to persuade a Republican to sustain it. After the override Cooper said in a written statement: \"Strong majorities of North Carolinians don't want right-wing politicians in the exam room with women and their doctors, which is even more understandable today after several Republican lawmakers broke their promises to protect women's reproductive freedom\" [17].\n\n**Power-shift legislation.** NC Newsline reported that before Cooper first took office in 2016, \"the GOP-led General Assembly convened to strip the governor's office of significant power,\" and that in December 2024 Republicans completed an override of his veto of Senate Bill 382, a bill that \"strips offices soon to be held by Democrats of appointment power, redirecting much of that authority to Republicans\" and that made \"a litany of changes to election administration.\" The override passed the House 72-46. Per NC Newsline, \"Republicans have touted the law as another measured step in Helene aid, while making needed fixes across state government,\" while \"Democrats and advocates, many of whom have protested at the Legislative Building in recent weeks, have decried it as a 'power grab' aimed at eroding democratic government.\" When Cooper vetoed it, \"calling it a 'sham,' he said it violated the state constitution\" [18].\n\n**COVID-19 closure orders.** WRAL reported that on June 5, 2020 Cooper vetoed House Bill 536, which would have permitted bars to operate in outdoor spaces while restricting the authority of the governor and municipalities to order future closures. Cooper said: \"State and local government leaders must be able to act quickly during the COVID-19 emergency to prevent a surge in cases that could overwhelm hospitals and harm the public. House Bill 536 would limit the ability of leaders to respond quickly to COVID-19 and hamper the health and safety of every North Carolinian.\" WRAL reported that House Speaker Tim Moore argued the proposal simply placed bars on equal footing with restaurants, that Lt. Gov. Dan Forest said other states had reopened bars without public health consequences, and that a bar-industry association filing lawsuits on behalf of 185 businesses expressed disappointment with the veto [22].\n\n**Opposition framing.** After his farewell address, North Carolina Republican Party spokesperson Matt Mercer criticized Cooper's \"failure in disaster recovery,\" as well as his stances on education and crime, and said: \"Roy Cooper's place in North Carolina history is secure: he is the most inconsequential governor\" [19].\n\n## Family\n\nCooper is married to Kristin Cooper [7], who served as First Lady of North Carolina during his governorship [19].\n\n## Sources\n\n[1] [COOPER, ROY - candidate overview (S6NC00407)](https://www.fec.gov/data/candidate/S6NC00407/) - Federal Election Commission, accessed 2026-07-30\n[2] [Official precinct results, March 3, 2026 primary (results_pct_20260303)](https://dl.ncsbe.gov/ENRS/2026_03_03/results_pct_20260303.zip) - North Carolina State Board of Elections, accessed 2026-07-30\n[3] [Upcoming Election - North Carolina 2026 Elections](https://www.ncsbe.gov/voting/upcoming-election) - North Carolina State Board of Elections, accessed 2026-07-30\n[4] [Cooper-Whatley U.S. Senate race 'a true test of where the state is'](https://www.wral.com/news/nccapitol/election-primary-north-carolina-us-senate-cooper-whately-march-2026/) - WRAL, accessed 2026-07-30\n[5] [Meet Roy](https://roycooper.com/about/) - Cooper for North Carolina (campaign site), accessed 2026-07-30\n[6] [Make Stuff Cost Less](https://roycooper.com/make-stuff-cost-less/) - Cooper for North Carolina (campaign site), accessed 2026-07-30\n[7] [Roy Cooper - governor biography](https://www.nga.org/governor/roy-cooper/) - National Governors Association, accessed 2026-07-30\n[8] [Gov. Roy Cooper - profile](https://www.wral.com/story/attorney-general-roy-cooper/11959769/) - WRAL, accessed 2026-07-30\n[9] [Official precinct results, November 8, 2016 general election (results_pct_20161108)](https://dl.ncsbe.gov/ENRS/2016_11_08/results_pct_20161108.zip) - North Carolina State Board of Elections, accessed 2026-07-30\n[10] [Official precinct results, November 3, 2020 general election (results_pct_20201103)](https://dl.ncsbe.gov/ENRS/2020_11_03/results_pct_20201103.zip) - North Carolina State Board of Elections, accessed 2026-07-30\n[11] [House Bill 76 / SL 2023-7 - bill history](https://www.ncleg.gov/BillLookUp/2023/H76) - North Carolina General Assembly, accessed 2026-07-30\n[12] [Session Law 2023-7 (House Bill 76)](https://www.ncleg.gov/EnactedLegislation/SessionLaws/HTML/2023-2024/SL2023-7.html) - North Carolina General Assembly, accessed 2026-07-30\n[13] [Over 600,000 North Carolinians Enrolled in Medicaid Expansion](https://www.ncdhhs.gov/news/press-releases/2024/12/16/over-600000-north-carolinians-enrolled-medicaid-expansion) - N.C. Department of Health and Human Services, accessed 2026-07-30\n[14] [Session Law 2017-4 (House Bill 142)](https://www.ncleg.gov/EnactedLegislation/SessionLaws/HTML/2017-2018/SL2017-4.html) - North Carolina General Assembly, accessed 2026-07-30\n[15] [Senate Bill 20 / SL 2023-14 - bill history](https://www.ncleg.gov/BillLookUp/2023/S20) - North Carolina General Assembly, accessed 2026-07-30\n[16] [Session Law 2023-14 (Senate Bill 20)](https://www.ncleg.gov/EnactedLegislation/SessionLaws/HTML/2023-2024/SL2023-14.html) - North Carolina General Assembly, accessed 2026-07-30\n[17] [NC legislature overrides governor's veto of abortion ban to make new restrictions law](https://ncnewsline.com/2023/05/16/nc-senate-overrides-veto-of-abortion-ban-with-house-vote-to-follow/) - NC Newsline, accessed 2026-07-30\n[18] [NC Republicans pass law shifting government power, overriding Cooper's veto](https://ncnewsline.com/2024/12/11/nc-republicans-pass-law-shifting-government-power-overriding-coopers-veto/) - NC Newsline, accessed 2026-07-30\n[19] [Gov. Roy Cooper touts Medicaid, jobs and education as his legacy in farewell address](https://ncnewsline.com/2024/12/19/gov-roy-cooper-touts-medicaid-jobs-and-education-as-his-legacy-in-farewell-address/) - NC Newsline, accessed 2026-07-30\n[20] [Governor Cooper commutes 15 death sentences following years of advocacy](https://ncnewsline.com/2024/12/31/governor-cooper-commutes-15-death-sentences-following-years-of-advocacy/) - NC Newsline, accessed 2026-07-30\n[21] [Helene damages in North Carolina total $53 billion, Cooper says, as he requests new state relief](https://ncnewsline.com/2024/10/23/helene-damages-in-north-carolina-total-53-billion-cooper-says-as-he-requests-new-state-relief/) - NC Newsline, accessed 2026-07-30\n[22] [NC Gov. Cooper vetoes 'Bar Bill'](https://www.wral.com/nc-gov-cooper-vetoes-bar-bill/19131832/) - WRAL, accessed 2026-07-30","campaigns":[{"contest":"us_senate","county":"alamance","county_count":100,"electiondate":"Tue, 03 Nov 2026 00:00:00 GMT","pgr":"general","state":"nc","title":"Us Senate"},{"contest":"us_senate","county":null,"county_count":0,"electiondate":"Tue, 03 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMT","pgr":"general","state":"NC","title":"Us Senate"}],"cf_filings":[],"firstname":"Roy","fullname":"Roy Asberry Cooper III","lastname":"Cooper","middlename":"Asberry","office_history":[{"campaigns":[{"contest":"us_senate","contest_title":"Us Senate","county":"alamance","county_count":100,"electiondate":"2026-11-03","office_county":null,"office_key":"us_senate","office_title":"U.S. Senator","party":"DEM","pgr":"general","state":"nc"},{"contest":"us_senate","contest_title":"Us Senate","county":null,"county_count":0,"electiondate":"2026-03-03","office_county":null,"office_key":"us_senate","office_title":"U.S. Senator","party":"DEM","pgr":"general","state":"NC"}],"county":null,"cycles":[{"general":{"contest":"us_senate","contest_title":"Us Senate","county":null,"county_count":0,"electiondate":"2026-03-03","office_county":null,"office_key":"us_senate","office_title":"U.S. Senator","party":"DEM","pgr":"general","state":"NC"},"party":"DEM","primary":null,"term":null,"year":2026}],"office_key":"us_senate","office_title":"U.S. Senator","state":"NC","terms":[]}],"suffix":"III","summary":"Roy Cooper, former North\u202fCarolina governor, is the Democratic Senate nominee in 2026, highlighting job growth, Medicaid expansion, and tariff reform.","terms":[],"token":"6f70aa83374498cb"}