Could Roy Cooper run for president in 2028?

Most of us think he'll run for Senate in 2026. But the White House seems a stretch too far

Out of all the predictions I made two weeks ago, the one you agreed with most was that former Gov. Roy Cooper will run for the U.S. Senate in 2026.

It just makes too much sense. Cooper is nothing if not politically opportunistic, and the next cycle presents him an abnormally strong chance to flip a seat blue. Cooper is focused on his legacy, and claiming that Senate seat would be the capstone of his career.

But I got a question from a reader that intrigued me: If Cooper wins the Senate seat, could he then run for president in 2028?

I just don’t see it happening.

Sure, Cooper would have the resume for the job. He’s also squarely in the lane I think Democrats will pull from for their next nominee — white, Southern moderates.

But Cooper will be 71 before Election Day in 2028. While the last few cycles clearly demonstrate that septuagenarians can get elected, I don’t think the national appetite will be there for another one next cycle. Someone like Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro or Kentucky…