Key facts
- Roy Cooper leads Republican Michael Whatley by 14 points in a recent poll.
- Cooper's campaign focuses on affordability and lowering healthcare costs.
- Whatley is a former Republican National Committee chair who has never held elected office.
- North Carolina's electorate is 40% independent.
- Trump's approval rating in North Carolina is 32%.
North Carolina's former Governor Roy Cooper is building a significant lead in the US Senate race against Republican Michael Whatley, a strategy that could offer a blueprint for other Democrats. Cooper's campaign has relentlessly focused on affordability and lowering healthcare costs, a message that appears to be resonating in a state where Democrats have not won a Senate seat in nearly two decades.
Cooper, who served six years as governor, points to his success in expanding Medicaid through a Republican-controlled legislature as evidence of his ability to work across the aisle. He criticizes healthcare cuts championed by President Donald Trump, arguing they disproportionately harm North Carolinians. A recent SurveyUSA poll showed Cooper with a 14-point lead, prompting a major Republican super PAC to pause advertising in the state and reallocate funds elsewhere.
While some Democrats advocate for Medicare for All, Cooper has focused on strengthening existing coverage and reducing prescription drug and insurance costs. Analysts suggest his popularity and focus on tangible economic issues, coupled with Whatley's perceived lack of distinction from Trump, are key to his success. The state's significant independent voter bloc, which leans towards Democrats nationally, is also a crucial factor.