Democrat Roy Cooper flips North Carolina US Senate seat

Roy Cooper beat out Republican Michael Whatley.

North Carolina Democratic Senate candidate Roy Cooper speaks to supporters in Raleigh, N.C., on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Matt Ramey) (AP)

Democrat Roy Cooper has won North Carolina’s United States Senate race, marking a significant pickup for the party as it looks to take back control of the chamber.

Cooper, a moderate former two-term governor, is the first Democrat to be elected to one of the state’s two US Senate seats since 2008, when former President Barack Obama carried it in his first White House bid.

He replaces outgoing Republican Senator Thom Tillis, who opted not to seek a third term in office after becoming a frequent critic of US President Donald Trump.

Since becoming the Democrats’ Senate nominee, Cooper consistently led his Republican opponent, former Republican National Committee chairman Michael Whatley, forcing Republicans to pull funding for Whatley’s campaign.

Cooper’s win is significant in a state that has narrowly voted for Trump three times since 2016.

Cooper said in his victory speech that he wants to combat “chaos and corruption in Washington” and pledged to work towards ending the US war against Iran after winning the US Senate election in North Carolina.

“Chaos and corruption in Washington were hurting our people. Today, you said, ‘This has to stop.’ And, as your new United States senator, I am ready to take that message to Washington,” Cooper said.

“We have to work to make healthcare, housing, and groceries more affordable, to end this war and stop the pain at the pump,” the former North Carolina governor added.

罗伊·库珀击败了共和党候选人迈克尔·沃特利。

2026年11月3日，星期二，选举日当天，北卡罗来纳州民主党参议员候选人罗伊·库珀在北卡罗来纳州罗利市向支持者发表讲话。（美联社照片/马特·拉米）（美联社）

民主党人罗伊·库珀赢得了北卡罗来纳州的美国参议员选举，这对该党来说是一个重大胜利，该党正寻求重新控制参议院。

库珀是一位立场温和的前两届州长，他是自 2008 年前总统巴拉克·奥巴马首次竞选总统以来，首位当选该州两个美国参议院席位之一的民主党人。

他接替了即将卸任的共和党参议员汤姆·蒂利斯，蒂利斯在频繁批评美国总统唐纳德·特朗普后，选择不再寻求第三个任期。

自成为民主党参议员候选人以来，库珀一直领先于他的共和党对手、前共和党全国委员会主席迈克尔·沃特利，迫使共和党人停止对沃特利竞选活动的资助。

库珀的胜利意义重大，因为自 2016 年以来，该州曾三次以微弱优势投票支持特朗普。

库珀在赢得北卡罗来纳州美国参议员选举后发表胜选演讲，表示他希望打击“华盛顿的混乱和腐败”，并承诺致力于结束美国对伊朗的战争。

“华盛顿的混乱和腐败正在伤害我们的人民。今天，你们说，‘这一切必须停止。’作为你们新任的美国参议员，我已准备好将这一信息带到华盛顿，”库珀说道。

“我们必须努力让医疗保健、住房和食品杂货更加实惠，以结束这场战争，并消除油价上涨带来的痛苦，”这位前北卡罗来纳州州长补充道。