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Yahoo
a day ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Former NC Gov. Roy Cooper announces run for U.S. Senate seat in 2026
RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) – Former North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper unveiled his plans to run for U.S. Senate, he announced in a campaign video on Monday morning. This comes after Sen. Thom Tillis, a Republican from Huntersville, announced his decision last month not to seek a third term in office, propelling his seat to become one of the most captivating races to follow during the 2026 midterm elections. 'Right now, our country is facing a moment as fragile as I can remember, and the decisions we make in the next election will determine if we even have a middle class in America anymore,' Cooper said in a video posted on X (formerly Twitter) on Monday. 'I never really wanted to go to Washington. I just wanted to serve the people of North Carolina right here, where I've lived all my life.' 'But these are not ordinary times,' he added.' 'Politicians in D.C. are running up our debt, ripping away our health care, disrespecting our veterans, cutting help for the poor, and even putting Medicare and Social Security at risk just to give tax breaks to billionaires. That's wrong, and I've had enough.' VIDEO: Former NC Gov. Cooper hints at run for US Senate in 2026 'I thought on it and prayed about it, and I've decided: I want to serve as your next United States Senator, because even now, I still believe our best days are ahead of us. I love North Carolina, and I know you do, too. I need you to be with us. And I can't wait to see you out there.' On Saturday night, Cooper spoke at the Unity Dinner hosted by the North Carolina Democratic Party in Raleigh, where he gave his strongest indication yet that he would seek the open Senate seat next year. During his speech, Cooper indicated he would be running 'for office' next year. 'Here's what I want you to do — everybody who is planning to run for office next year, please stand up. Stand up guys! Let's give them all a big hand,' Cooper said as he surveyed the room. Then, he took a few seconds. 'Hey, I'm not sitting down, am I?' Cooper said, grinning widely and chuckling to thunderous applause. The crowd soon broke out into a pro-Cooper chant. 'Thank you guys! Thank you!' Cooper said. Aside from Cooper, there have been other names suspected of running for Senate that have roused up both the Democratic and Republican parties. Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Whatley, a North Carolina native, and Lara Trump, his former RNC co-chair and President Donald Trump's daughter-in-law, were both speculated to have been considering a run. Although Trump decided Thursday not to enter the race, Whatley announced he will run with the blessing of President Donald Trump. RNC Chairman Michael Whatley to launch campaign for Senate in North Carolina: Sources For several months, Democrat and former U.S. congressman Wiley Nickel has put his hat back into the ring to run. However, sources close to the former congressman told CBS 17 on Friday that his campaign for the Senate seat will be suspended next week with plans to fully endorse Cooper. On Saturday night, it was Cooper who took in the applause after hinting at his campaign for the open North Carolina U.S. Senate seat. 'Now, for almost seven months I have been out of office, and I have been reading and watching media reports and guys, we know it isn't pretty,' Cooper said. He pointed out recent defunding in healthcare, SNAP programs, and tax breaks for the wealthy. 'But this beautiful experiment we call democracy, it only works when we work for it, which means everyone needs to stay engaged and find a way to do something,' Cooper said. In response to Cooper's announcement, National Republican Congressional Committee Chairman Richard Hudson (R-NC) released the following statement: 'Roy Cooper spent decades dragging North Carolina left, and now he wants to do the same to America. Roy Cooper supports men playing in girls' sports and raising taxes on working families. Roy Cooper marched with protestors and then let them burn Raleigh. And Roy Cooper assured all of America that Joe Biden was perfectly capable of being President for four more years. Roy Cooper doesn't want to make America great again; he just wants to take America Left.' U.S. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) Chair Kirsten Gillibrand also issued the following statement: 'Governor Cooper is a proven leader who has dedicated his life to serving North Carolina. From expanding Medicaid for hundreds of thousands of North Carolinians to bringing good-paying jobs to the state and taking on scammers and big banks, Cooper has always been a champion for North Carolina families. 'Governor Cooper is a formidable candidate who will flip North Carolina's Senate seat, and his announcement is the latest indication that the Republicans' Senate majority is at risk in 2026.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Former Gov. Roy Cooper Jumps Into North Carolina's U.S. Senate Race
Former North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper declared his candidacy for a U.S. Senate seat in the state, giving Democrats their top recruit in one of the marquee Senate races of the 2026 midterm elections. 'I have thought on it and prayed about it, and I have decided: I am running to be the next U.S. Senator from North Carolina,' Cooper wrote in a post Monday on social media, alongside a video outlining the policies underpinning his bid. Cooper, who served four terms as attorney general and two terms as governor, is popular in the state and Senate Democrats aggressively pitched him on running. The seat is held by Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), who announced his retirement earlier this summer after saying he could not support the Medicaid cuts included in the GOP's massive domestic policy legislation, a step that drew condemnation from President Donald Trump. Trump is now backing Republican National Committee Chair Michael Whatley for the seat. Trump's daughter-in-law, Lara Trump, considered running but decided not to mount a bid.
CNN
5 days ago
- Politics
- CNN
RNC Chair Michael Whatley will run for Senate from North Carolina, sources tell CNN
Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Whatley is expected to run for the Senate in North Carolina, setting up a marquee race in next year's midterms, two sources familiar with Whatley's plans tell CNN. He will enter the race with President Donald Trump's backing, one of the sources says, after Trump's daughter-in-law, Lara Trump, opted against running. A North Carolina Republican consultant who has worked to set up Whatley's campaign told CNN that a formal announcement is expected to come 'in the next week to 10 days.' Politico first reported Whatley's plans. The RNC chairman's entry sets the stage for what's likely to be one of the best-funded, highest-profile Senate races on the 2026 midterm calendar. Former Gov. Roy Cooper, a popular Democrat who was term-limited after eight years and left office at the end of 2024, also plans to announce a Senate run in the coming days, sources told CNN. Lara Trump opted against running for the seat being vacated by retiring Republican Sen. Thom Tillis. She plans to remain in her in role as host of a weekly Fox News show and will also appear alongside Whatley at upcoming political events, a source said. The clash in North Carolina comes as Democrats, who need to flip four Senate seats to claim the majority, look for opportunities to make races for Republican-held seats competitive on an unforgiving map in which North Carolina could be the only true toss-up. Democrats' Senate hopes of flipping GOP-held seats elsewhere could hinge on retirement and recruiting questions. In Maine, five-term Sen. Susan Collins has beaten back stiff Democratic challenges in the past. In Texas, Sen. John Cornyn faces a primary challenge from state Attorney General Ken Paxton, a scandal-plagued conservative firebrand who Democrats view as a much weaker general election candidate. In Iowa, Sen. Joni Ernst has not yet announced her reelection plans, though Republicans have several strong potential replacements if she opts out. In Ohio, Democrats hope former Sen. Sherrod Brown, who narrowly lost his seat in 2024, will attempt a comeback — this time challenging Republican Sen. Jon Husted. Democrats must also defend Senate seats in several swing states, including an open-seat race in Michigan; Georgia, where Sen. Jon Ossoff is seeking reelection; and New Hampshire, where Sen. Jeanne Shaheen is retiring. Whatley previously spent five years as chairman of the North Carolina Republican Party and the RNC's general counsel. He took the helm of the national party in 2024 after Trump's tensions with former RNC chairwoman Ronna McDaniel.
Yahoo
18-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Kern County's 2026 primary candidates: One-on-one interview with AD-35 hopeful Andrae Gonzales
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — The 2026 Election is already underway, as candidates throw their names in the ring for local, state and federal offices. Wednesday morning, Bakersfield Ward 2 City Councilmember Andrae Gonzales announced his run for California's 35th Assembly District. 17 Political Reporter Jenny Huh sat down with Gonzales for a candidate profile. It's a political domino effect or ladder, if you will. Gonzales announced Thursday morning he's running to replace Assemblywoman Dr. Jasmeet Bains in the 35th Assembly District, who, one day prior, announced she's running for Congress. 'My goal is to know the district as well as I know Ward 2, and to be as involved, as engaged as I can,' said Gonzales. The 43-year-old has represented Bakersfield's Ward 2 since 2016, prior to that serving as a board trustee on the Bakersfield City School District. An east Bakersfield native and current Eastchester resident, the Democrat is eyeing the step up to Sacramento, saying the state must do more for cities. 'We know and I know that Sacramento can do so much more to help us address some of the most chronic pressing issues that are facing our neighborhoods for too long,' Gonzales said. 'Kern County has got the short end of the stick. We have our older brothers, the Bay Area and in the L.A. Southern California area, our big brothers who seem to have a seat at the table and kind of nudge us out.' 17's Jenny Huh: 'How do you, amid all the other state legislators and senators that are working to do the same thing for their community, how do you prioritize Kern?' Andrae Gonzales: 'I grew up in a family with five siblings, and I know a thing or two about nudging my way in. I was a middle child.' On his priorities at the state level, Gonzales said, 'Number one is to grow and diversify our local economy. We know that we're facing so many challenges when it comes to with respect to our region and in good paying jobs.' Gonzales has long focused on issues like homelessness, housing affordability and support for small local businesses, all of which he says his 'Downtown Ward' feels especially hard. 'The issues compound themselves, everything from chronic poverty to disinvestment in some of our oldest neighborhoods to homelessness, to a decline in the downtown area and a lack of investment over a period of 30, 40 years,' the assemblymember hopeful explained. AD-35 is a seat Gonzales has eyed before, in the 2024 cycle, though he ultimately bowed out. 'This opportunity with Dr. Bains running for Congress has opened the seat up. And it's an open seat, I want to give it a shot,' Gonzales answered, when asked about his first go at the seat. The work has already started. 17 News joined Gonzales Wednesday evening in Delano, as he met with community leaders. Delano is the second largest city in kern but is also where the incumbent Bains' roots lie. Gonzales said when it comes to his ability to transition to state leadership, he hopes the proof is in the pudding. He highlighted various accomplishments at the city level, especially in helping hundreds of small businesses, including through the B3K Initiative, the Bakersfield College Launch Pad Initiative, and the Prosperity Neighborhood Initiative. Gonzales also highlighted his role in the launching of the Bakersfield community land trust, which offers affordable housing opportunities to those low to moderate income. He credited his late father, who served as a counselor at Bakersfield College — for his public servant mindset, which Gonzales said began at the young age of six. 'I am very serious about getting to work and just focusing on the issues and being very pragmatic and practical in getting things done for people,' Gonzales said. Click here for the full interview with Andrae Gonzales. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
16-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
What to know about Bill Berrien, latest Republican to jump into Wisconsin governor race
A second Republican has officially joined next year's race for Wisconsin governor, though current Democratic Gov. Tony Evers hasn't announced whether he'll run for a third term. Bill Berrien, a Navy SEAL veteran and manufacturing CEO, launched his campaign July 9. He joins Washington County Executive Josh Schoemann, who's also running as a Republican. More candidates could join the GOP primary field. In his first campaign ad, Berrien likened himself to President Donald Trump as "an outsider and a businessman." "The globalists shipped our jobs in factories to China and the career politicians let it happen. Not us. We went all-in on Wisconsin," Berrien says, referring to his manufacturing business. Here's what to know about Berrien, the latest Republican to declare a run for governor: What is Bill Berrien's political experience? Berrien describes himself as a "political outsider" and hasn't campaigned for or held elected office. In April, Berrien formed a political action committee, making him the first Republican to make a public move toward running for governor. What is Bill Berrien's military background? Berrien was a Navy SEAL for nine years, according to his campaign website, and served as a team officer and platoon commander. He attended Army Ranger School and the SEAL Sniper Course. His PAC is called "Never Out of the Fight," inspired by the Navy SEAL team ethos. What is Bill Berrien's manufacturing business? Berrien is the CEO of Pindel Global Precision and Liberty Precision, which is based in New Berlin. He acquired the company in 2012. The company is a contract manufacturer of precision machined components for industries like aerospace, defense and agriculture. Pindel also manufactured parts for ventilators during the COVID pandemic. What is Bill Berrien's platform? Among Berrien's top priorities are promoting Wisconsin's manufacturing industry, lowering taxes and ensuring local law enforcement work with federal agencies to carry out deportations. Berrien criticized Evers for vetoing legislation that blocks transgender students from participating in sports teams that align with their gender identity, calling it "radical social experimentation." In an interview with the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Berrien said he was opening to legalizing marijuana in some capacity and keeping Wisconsin's current 20-week abortion law. More: Where Wisconsin GOP governor candidate Bill Berrien stands on Trump, abortion, marijuana and more How old is Bill Berrien? Berrien is 56. Who is in Bill Berrien's family? Berrien and his wife, Betsie, have three children — Grace, Will and Joe. He coaches his son's high school lacrosse team. Where did Bill Berrien go to college? Berrien received his bachelor's degree in politics from Princeton University, a master's from Johns Hopkins University, and an MBA from Harvard Business School, according to his LinkedIn profile. While attending Princeton, he was captain of the school's water polo team. Where is Bill Berrien from? Berrien, who grew up in New York City, describes himself as a Wisconsin "convert" who moved to the state two decades ago for his career and chose to raise his family here. He lives with his family in Whitefish Bay, a northern suburb of Milwaukee. Does Bill Berrien support Trump? Berrien is seeking to align himself with Trump. In the 2024 Republican presidential primary, he supported former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley but switched his support to Trump in the general election. Berrien told the Journal Sentinel he supports Trump's tariff policies and posture toward China, saying he wants to replicate such policies at the state level. What are Democrats saying about Bill Berrien? In a statement, Democratic Party of Wisconsin chairman Devin Remiker said Berrien is "rich enough to buy himself some attention and clueless enough to think that's going to work — just like Elon Musk did this past April only to see his political career end." Who else is running for governor in Wisconsin? Evers hasn't announced whether he'll seek a third term, telling reporters July 7 his decision would come in a "couple weeks." If he chooses not to run, it could open up a Democratic primary. Attorney General Josh Kaul, Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley and Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez are among the potential Democratic contenders. On the Republican side, possible candidates include Senate President Mary Felzkowski, former U.S. Senate candidate Eric Hovde, former U.S. Senate and governor candidate Tim Michels, and U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany. More: Businessmen Tim Michels, Eric Hovde considering return to politics with runs for Wisconsin governor This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Who is Bill Berrien, Republican candidate for Wisconsin governor?
