Is former NC Gov. Cooper ready to make a Senate election decision?
Good morning and welcome to Under the Dome. I’m Ronni Butts. Happy Thursday!
And now for an update on the North Carolina Senate race: We’re getting closer to learning former Gov. Roy Cooper’s decision about whether he will run in 2026.
And Lara Trump, the president’s daughter-in-law, has an announcement of her own, but it’s not what you think.
COOPER DECISION COMING SOON
Cooper, a Democrat, is expected to announce a campaign for Senate next week, according to Axios. Cooper’s adviser told McClatchy DC’s Danielle Battaglia on Wednesday that Cooper “would be making his intentions known in the coming days.”
Eyes have been on Cooper to run for Senate, especially after Republican Sen. Thom Tillis announced in late June that he will not run for reelection after two terms.
Tillis’ decision leaves the election wide open for both Republican and Democratic candidates. Some experts anticipate that North Carolina’s 2026 race will be one of the most competitive in the country and the most expensive.
Cooper saw strong support in North Carolina and served two consecutive terms as governor. But he could face some serious competition. One still-unknown factor in the state’s Senate race is Lara Trump, a TV host on Fox News and President Donald Trump’s daughter-in-law.
Trump said she is considering a bid, but has not yet made a decision. In order for her to run, she would have to move to North Carolina by the fall.
Meanwhile, Lara Trump made headlines this week after the release of a teaser for her song, “Eyes of God,” The Telegraph reported. Battaglia has the details.
DEMOCRATIC PARTY’S UPCOMING UNITY DINNER
While the anticipation swirls, the state Democratic Party is preparing to hold its annual fundraising dinner Saturday in Raleigh.
Cooper is among the featured speakers planned for the Democrats’ Unity Dinner, alongside Supreme Court Justice Anita Earls, party chair Anderson Clayton and Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, who will deliver the keynote address.
“This event is not just a dinner — it’s a celebration of our shared values,” the party’s event page reads. “Your attendance will help fuel our efforts to elect Democratic leaders who will fight for equality, justice and opportunity for all North Carolinians. Together, we can make a real difference in our communities and shape the future of our state.”
Last year, former U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi headlined the dinner, speaking after President Joe Biden’s disastrous debate performance during the 2024 presidential campaign.
The evening event is sold out.
— Kyle Ingram
WHAT ELSE WE’RE WORKING ON
- After North Carolina ranked no. 1 for the best state for business by CNBC, N&O reporter Brian Gordon sat down with Christopher Chung, the CEO of the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina about his plans for bringing more jobs to the state.
- NC Attorney General Jeff Jackson said that North Carolina is facing “chaos” after the Trump administration froze funds for education. The Charlotte Observer’s Abigail Pender has more. T. Keung Hui also reported on Jackson’s joint lawsuit against the Trump administration along with 23 other states.
- For the first time in over a decade, the Wake County Board of Elections is led by Republicans, with a 3-2 divide. The board that traditionally would have been a Democratic majority flipped because of new powers given to the Republican state auditor to choose board of elections members. Anna Roman has more.
- U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson will visit the state next month. The first Black female justice will discuss her new memoir at the Harvey B. Gantt Center in Charlotte, The Charlotte Observer’s Damenica Ellis reports.
Today’s newsletter was by Ronni Butts and Kyle Ingram. Check your inbox tomorrow for more #ncpol.
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