Roy Cooper Raises Record $3.4M in NC Senate Race

Former North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper raised a record $3.4 million in the first 24 hours of his 2026 U.S. Senate campaign, with more than 95% of donations from small-dollar contributors. Of this total, $2.6 million went directly to his campaign and nearly $900,000 was raised through joint fundraising with the Democratic Party. Cooper is now the frontrunner for the Democratic nomination after former Congressman Wiley Nickel withdrew and endorsed him. The race for the seat vacated by retiring Republican Senator Thom Tillis is expected to be highly competitive and costly. Cooper is likely to face Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Whatley, who has been endorsed by Donald Trump. Democrats view Cooper's candidacy as a rare chance to challenge Republicans in a state that has leaned GOP in recent federal elections.