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 Gov. Andy Beshear will be in a much better position to claim that lane.
Plus, I don’t think Cooper has the energy or motivation for such a run. He doesn’t feel like he needs it. As Thomas Wolfe pointed out in “Look Homeward, Angel,” homegrown North Carolinians rarely aspire beyond our state’s borders.
“Few of the university's sons had been distinguished in the nation's life--there had been an obscure President of the United States, and a few Cabinet members, but few had sought such distinction: it was glory enough to be a great man in one's State. Nothing beyond mattered very much.”
—Thomas Wolfe, “Look Homeward, Angel”
I could see Cooper being on the short list again for vice president. But as far as his own campaign for the White House goes, I think it’s very, very unlikely.
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Quick hits
Gov. Josh Stein’s first actions in office were a series of executive orders to make it easier to get safe housing to western North Carolina. Cutting red tape like this is long overdue. But there’s still a ton needed to fix a horribly inefficient disaster recovery office from the Cooper administration.
New State Auditor Dave Boliek is off to a strong start. He’s already said he’ll start with an audit on the DMV. Now he’s sent a great message that he’s keeping an eye on Stein. I hope he’ll keep it up and regularly update the public on his efforts to hold the administration accountable.
I love new Labor Commissioner Luke Farley’s tagline for the role: “We’ll make North Carolina the safest place to work and the best place to do business.” Pithy messaging like this is more important than you might think. Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp was able to neutralize liberal attacks on the state’s election law by repeating that the goal was to make it “easy to vote and hard to cheat.”
With the new year, North Carolina’s tax rates have fallen yet again. Feel free to use this graphic in any of your social media or emails.
Important reads
Patrick McHenry Lets Loose on the Republican Insurgents He Left Behind (Politico)
Passing the torch: Cooper represents the end of an era while Stein represents the beginning of a new one (PoliticsNC)
Elaine Marshall explains the transfer of the Great Seal of the State of North Carolina (ABC11)