Roy Cooper

Roy Cooper
Born	Roy Asberry Cooper III 6/13/1957
Birthplace	Nashville, North Carolina, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Politician, lawyer
Known for	75th Governor of North Carolina, longest-serving Attorney General in North Carolina history
Education	University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (BA, JD)
Children	3
Website	https://www.roycooper.com/

Roy Asberry Cooper III (born June 13, 1957) is an American politician and lawyer who served as the 75th governor of North Carolina from 2017 to 2025. A member of the Democratic Party, Cooper's political career spans nearly four decades, beginning with his election to the North Carolina House of Representatives in 1986 and continuing through service in the North Carolina Senate, a record-setting tenure as the state's attorney general, and two terms as governor. Born and raised in rural eastern North Carolina, Cooper built his career on issues including education funding, healthcare expansion, and criminal justice. As attorney general from 2001 to 2017, he served longer than any other person in that office in the state's history. His 2016 gubernatorial victory over incumbent Pat McCrory made him the first challenger to defeat a sitting governor in North Carolina's history. After completing his second term as governor in January 2025, Cooper entered the 2026 race for the United States Senate in North Carolina, winning the Democratic primary in March 2026 and becoming the party's nominee for the seat being vacated by retiring Republican Senator Thom Tillis.

Early Life

Roy Asberry Cooper III was born on June 13, 1957, in Nashville, North Carolina, a small town in Nash County in the eastern part of the state. He was raised in a family with roots in the region. His father was Roy Asberry Cooper Jr., and he had a brother, Pell Cooper. Cooper grew up in the rural communities of eastern North Carolina, an experience that shaped his political identity and later policy priorities. The area's economy was largely agricultural, and the challenges facing rural communities — including access to education, healthcare, and economic opportunity — became recurring themes throughout Cooper's career.

Education

Cooper attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1979. He subsequently remained at the university for law school, earning his Juris Doctor degree from the University of North Carolina School of Law. After completing his legal education, Cooper began practicing law in North Carolina, establishing himself in the state's legal community before turning to electoral politics in the mid-1980s.

Career

North Carolina General Assembly (1987–2001)

Cooper's political career began in 1986, when he was elected to represent the 72nd district in the North Carolina House of Representatives. He took office on February 9, 1987, succeeding Allen Barbee in the seat. Cooper served in the state House until 1991, gaining experience in state legislative politics and developing policy positions on education and economic development.

On February 21, 1991, Cooper was appointed to the North Carolina Senate, representing the 10th district. He succeeded Jim Ezzell in the seat. During his time in the Senate, Cooper rose through the ranks of the Democratic caucus, eventually becoming Majority Leader of the North Carolina Senate on July 17, 1997, succeeding Richard Conder in that leadership role. As Majority Leader, Cooper played a central role in shaping the chamber's legislative agenda and managing floor proceedings. He held the Majority Leader position until January 1, 2001, when he was succeeded by Tony Rand. Cooper's tenure in the General Assembly totaled 14 years, during which he transitioned from a junior House member to one of the most influential figures in the state Senate.

Attorney General of North Carolina (2001–2017)

In 2000, Cooper was elected as the 50th Attorney General of North Carolina, succeeding Mike Easley, who had been elected governor. Cooper took office on January 6, 2001. He was subsequently reelected in 2004, 2008, and 2012, serving nearly 16 consecutive years in the position — the longest tenure for any attorney general in North Carolina's history.

As attorney general, Cooper oversaw the state's Department of Justice and was responsible for representing the state in legal matters, consumer protection, criminal investigations, and other law enforcement functions. His long service in the role established him as one of the most recognizable Democratic officeholders in North Carolina during a period when the Republican Party was gaining strength in the state's politics.

Cooper's tenure as attorney general positioned him as a leading contender for higher office, and throughout his time in the position, he built a statewide political network and developed expertise in areas including public safety, consumer protection, and the state's legal system.

Governor of North Carolina (2017–2025)

2016 Election

In 2016, Cooper ran for governor of North Carolina against the Republican incumbent, Pat McCrory. The race took place amid significant national and state political controversies, including the passage of House Bill 2 (HB2), a law restricting transgender individuals' use of public restrooms that drew widespread attention and economic backlash against the state. Cooper defeated McCrory in a closely contested election, becoming the first challenger in North Carolina history to defeat a sitting governor.

The significance of the election was compounded by the actions of the outgoing Republican-dominated legislature, which convened a special session before Cooper took office to pass bills aimed at reducing the power of the governor's office. These measures included changes to the governor's authority over elections boards, the state Cabinet, and judicial appointments. The episode drew national attention and was characterized by observers as an attempt to limit the incoming governor's influence.

First Term (2017–2021)

Cooper took office as governor on January 1, 2017, with Dan Forest, a Republican, serving as lieutenant governor. From the outset, Cooper faced a legislature with Republican supermajorities in both chambers, creating a dynamic in which the governor's veto power was frequently tested.

Despite these challenges, Cooper signed a number of bipartisan bills into law. In 2017, he signed the STOP Act, legislation aimed at combating the opioid epidemic in North Carolina by imposing limits on opioid prescriptions. Cooper also signed the so-called "Brunch Bill," which allowed the earlier Sunday sale of alcohol at restaurants and bars. In July 2017, he signed legislation strengthening protections against domestic violence.

In May 2017, Cooper was named to the White House's opioid commission, which was tasked with advising on the national response to the opioid crisis.

Cooper served as the 2019 co-chair of the Appalachian Regional Commission's states, representing the interests of North Carolina's Appalachian counties.

The 2018 midterm elections proved consequential for Cooper's governing ability. Republicans lost their supermajorities in the North Carolina General Assembly, meaning they could no longer override the governor's vetoes without Democratic support. This shift gave Cooper substantially more leverage in negotiations with the legislature over the state budget and policy priorities.

Cooper exercised his veto power on multiple occasions, including his veto of House Bill 100. Throughout his first term, Cooper consistently emphasized the need for increased investment in public education, including teacher pay raises, and for expanding Medicaid coverage under the Affordable Care Act — an issue on which he and the Republican legislature were at an impasse for years.

2020 Reelection

Cooper ran for reelection in 2020 against the Republican nominee, Lieutenant Governor Dan Forest. Cooper won the election by a comfortable margin, carrying the state even as the national political environment was closely divided.

Second Term (2021–2025)

Cooper's second term began on January 1, 2021, with Mark Robinson, a Republican, serving as lieutenant governor. The second term was marked by Cooper's continued emphasis on education and healthcare funding. A central achievement of his tenure was the successful negotiation of statewide Medicaid expansion in North Carolina. After years of opposition from the Republican legislature, Cooper reached a bipartisan agreement to expand Medicaid, extending health coverage to hundreds of thousands of North Carolinians who had previously been uninsured. The expansion represented one of the most consequential policy outcomes of Cooper's governorship.

Cooper's second term also included managing the state's response to Hurricane Helene, which caused significant damage in western North Carolina in 2024.

Cooper was succeeded as governor by Josh Stein, who took office on January 1, 2025. Stein had previously succeeded Cooper as attorney general in 2017.

2026 U.S. Senate Campaign

Following the completion of his second term as governor, Cooper entered the 2026 race for the United States Senate in North Carolina. The seat became open when Republican Senator Thom Tillis announced his retirement. Cooper sought the Democratic nomination and won the primary election in March 2026.

In the general election, Cooper will face Michael Whatley, the former chairman of the Republican National Committee, who won the Republican primary with the endorsement of former President Donald Trump. The race is expected to be one of the most competitive Senate contests in the 2026 election cycle.

Cooper launched a "Make Stuff Cost Less" tour following his primary victory, campaigning across the state on themes of affordability, including housing costs and healthcare expenses. The campaign has focused on proposals related to reducing the cost of living, with Cooper and Whatley both addressing housing affordability and healthcare costs in public forums.

The race presents a significant challenge for Cooper, as North Carolina has historically been more willing to elect Democrats as governor than to send them to the U.S. Senate.

Personal Life

Cooper has three children. He maintains deep ties to eastern North Carolina, where he was born and raised. His brother, Pell Cooper, has also been involved in public life in the state. Throughout his political career, Cooper has been identified with the moderate wing of the Democratic Party, a positioning that has been credited with his electoral success in a competitive Southern state.

Recognition

Cooper's defeat of an incumbent governor in 2016 was a historic first in North Carolina, drawing significant national attention to the state's politics. His appointment to the White House opioid commission in 2017 recognized his work on combating substance abuse at the state level.

His record-setting tenure as attorney general — nearly 16 years, the longest in North Carolina history — and his two successful gubernatorial campaigns established Cooper as one of the most prominent Democratic politicians in the American South during the early 21st century. A 2017 article in The New York Times Magazine examined North Carolina's political landscape and Cooper's role within it, framing the state as a potential bellwether for broader national political trends.

Cooper's successful negotiation of Medicaid expansion in North Carolina was among the most significant policy achievements of his governorship, resolving a long-standing political standoff between the governor's office and the Republican-controlled legislature.

Legacy

Cooper's nearly four decades in North Carolina politics encompassed service in both chambers of the state legislature, the longest attorney general tenure in the state's history, and two terms as governor. His career coincided with a period of significant political transformation in North Carolina, as the state shifted from a historically Democratic-leaning state to one of the most competitive battleground states in the country.

His 2016 victory over Pat McCrory — the first time a sitting North Carolina governor was defeated by a challenger — underscored the volatility of the state's politics and the impact of the HB2 controversy on the election. The subsequent legislative actions to curtail the governor's power before Cooper took office became a nationally studied example of political power struggles between branches of government.

As governor, Cooper's emphasis on education funding and healthcare expansion defined his administration's priorities. The achievement of Medicaid expansion, in particular, represented a major policy milestone that extended coverage to a substantial number of previously uninsured residents.

Cooper's entry into the 2026 Senate race positioned him as a test case for whether a Democrat with a strong statewide record as governor could translate that success into a U.S. Senate victory in a state that has not elected a Democrat to the chamber since Kay Hagan in 2008.