Former North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper (D) has an early lead over Republican National Committee Chair Michael Whatley in the North Carolina Senate race as the candidates appear poised for a general election match-up.

Former Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper will run for the U.S. Senate in North Carolina, giving Democrats a proven statewide winner in an open-seat race that is expected to be one of

Democrats notched a big win with their recruitment of Roy Cooper for the open Senate seat being vacated by Republican Sen. Thom Tillis.