Exclusive: Democrat Roy Cooper, who served two terms as North Carolina governor, makes his candidacy official in what's expected to be a highly watched and expensive race.

Name recognition and experience are among his advantages, but Triad professors say his strategy in this race will need to be different than previous campaigns.

Washington — Republican National Committee chairman Michael Whatley is preparing to enter the race for the open U.S. Senate seat in North Carolina, one of the top battleground contests of the 2026 cycle, according to three sources familiar with his plans.