Roy Cooper flips North Carolina Senate seat in setback for Trump

Roy Cooper defeated Trump-backed Michael Whatley in North Carolina's Senate contest. The result gives Democrats a key gain in their effort to challenge the Republican majority.Roy Cooper campaigned on rising food and energy costs. (Photo: Reuters) New Delhi,Nov 4, 2026 08:35 ISTDemocrat Roy Cooper has won the US Senate race in North Carolina, defeating Republican Michael Whatley, who was backed by President Donald Trump, reported news agency Reuters. The victory gives Democrats a crucial seat as they seek to challenge the Republican majority in the Senate.Cooper, a former two-term governor of North Carolina, defeated Whatley in Tuesday's election after campaigning on the rising cost of food and energy. The result comes as Trump's approval ratings have fallen, as per the report.The win means Cooper will replace Republican Senator Thom Tillis, who announced his retirement after breaking with Trump over Medicaid cuts in the President's signature tax and spending law.Republicans entered Tuesday's elections with a 53-47 majority in the Senate. Democrats needed a net gain of four seats to take control of the chamber, making the North Carolina contest an important part of their effort to narrow the gap. COOPER'S NAME RECOGNITION HELPED CAMPAIGNCooper, 69, entered the race with strong statewide name recognition after serving two terms as governor. He built a significant lead in opinion polls and attracted strong support from independent voters, according to Reuters.His campaign focused on the high cost of everyday essentials, particularly food and energy, at a time when Trump's approval ratings were declining. Whatley, a former chair of the Republican National Committee (RNC), had never held elected office. He campaigned alongside Trump in North Carolina, seeking to win the seat for the Republicans.Trump had endorsed Whatley in 2024 to replace Ronna McDaniel as RNC chair. With Trump's daughter-in-law Lara Trump serving as co-chair, Whatley helped lead the party's election integrity drive ahead of the 2024 presidential election. The effort aimed to mobilise 100,000 Republican volunteers and attorneys in battleground states to monitor voting.Cooper's victory marks a Democratic gain in a seat previously held by Republicans and adds to the party's effort to make inroads in the Senate.- Ends