Roy Cooper

Political experts say North Carolina's Senate race next year could see around $500 million in campaign spending, and the contest between former Gov. Roy Cooper and Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Whatley could set a new record for the most expensive Senate race in the country.

Democrats still in the dumps over last year’s elections have found cause for optimism in North Carolina, where former Gov. Roy Cooper jumped into the race for that state’s newly open seat with a vow to address voters’ persistent concerns about making ends meet. Republicans, meanwhile, are hardly ceding the economic populist ground President Donald Trump held in carrying the state last year. In announcing his candidacy for Senate on Thursday, Republican National Committee Chair Michael Whatley credited Trump with fulfilling campaign promises to working Americans. Cooper’s plainspoken appeal represents the latest effort by Democrats to find their way back to power.

Former U.S. Rep. Wiley Nickel has decided to quit his bid for a Senate seat in North Carolina after Democrat Roy Cooper announced his candidacy. Nickel endorsed Cooper on Tuesday, citing leadership and inspiration by the former two-term governor. Cooper launched his campaign on Monday to succeed retiring Republican Sen. Thom Tillis. On the GOP side, Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Whatley is expected to run with Donald Trump's support. Nickel had formally launched a Senate campaign in April, but his activities were always overshadowed by what Cooper decided to do next. Nickel hinted at future political endeavors in his Tuesday statement.

The two-term governor, a Democrat, has long been expected to seek the seat being vacated by Sen. Thom Tillis.

The former governor's remarks were Cooper's first time speaking publicly since news of his Senate campaign broke and come just days before he's expected to formally announce.

Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Whatley is planning a run for U.S. Senate in North Carolina next year after Sen. Thom Tillis dropped out of the race.

Roy Cooper is a fellow at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

Stein has been the attorney general for the past eight years, following Cooper in the elected law-enforcement post that Cooper himself had held for the 16 years previous.

On his final day in office, North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper has commuted the death row sentences of 15 people to life without parole.

Gov. Roy Cooper is wrapping up his final weeks in office, and he made a farewell speech Wednesday in his home county.