By Jheri Hardaway
Staff Writer
Smithfield, NC - Former Governor Roy Cooper brought his U.S. Senate campaign to Johnston County, speaking to a packed room of supporters about affordability, healthcare, and corporate accountability. His focus is “making stuff cost less.” During the Smithfield event, Cooper heavily contrasted his record in North Carolina state government with that of his Republican opponent, former Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Whatley, whom he repeatedly labeled a "Washington, D.C. insider." Cooper, who served as the state's governor from 2017 to 2025, framed his run for the open Senate seat as a direct response to policies currently coming out of Washington.
"I had not planned on running; I thought about doing something else when I left the governor's office," Cooper told the crowd. "But then I saw what started happening to people in my state when this administration took hold, and my opponent was supporting these policies that were hurting people. I kept thinking about that verse from the book of Luke: 'To whom much is given, much is required.' I needed to step up right now.” Cooper pointed to major legislative and executive achievements during his tenure in Raleigh as the blueprint for what he hopes to accomplish federally. He noted that under his administration, North Carolina saw the creation of 640,000 new, better-paying jobs and implemented paid parental leave for state employees via executive order.
A central pillar of Cooper's speech was his successful, years-long push to expand Medicaid in North Carolina, a move that ultimately extended health insurance coverage to more than 750,000 residents. Cooper also highlighted a landmark medical debt relief initiative executed during his time in office. By leveraging federal funds and coordinating with 99 of the state's hospitals, the program effectively wiped away $6.5 billion in medical debt for more than 2.5 million North Carolinians. "We have removed medical debt that stifles people," Cooper said, sharing a story of a local woman named Mary who had a $54,000 judgment completely cleared. "When you have a civil judgment against you, you can't get a credit card, you can't buy a house. This makes a real difference in people's lives."
Turning his attention to the general election matchup, Cooper launched a fierce critique against Whatley's professional background as a corporate lobbyist. "My opponent, Michael Whatley, is a longtime lobbyist who lobbied for Big Oil and utility companies like Duke Energy," Cooper charged. "He is the kind of person who is looking out for himself and his billionaire buddies, supporting policies that are making stuff cost more and taking healthcare away from people. We need somebody who will put the people before power, party, and politics."
In a post-event press conference with reporters, Cooper addressed the immediate economic anxieties of voters in a county that voted heavily for Donald Trump. When pressed on surging fuel costs and grocery inflation, Cooper outlined a comprehensive policy platform aimed at lowering standard middle-class overhead. He advocated for rolling back "chaotic tariffs" that increase supply chain costs for small businesses, farmers, and restaurants. He also called for heightened antitrust enforcement to block major grocery store mergers and curb price-gouging algorithms. Cooper also addressed international factors affecting North Carolina utility and fuel costs, pointing to the ongoing conflict involving Iran. He argued that Congress must exert pressure to stabilize domestic energy markets. "Gas and diesel were okay until this war in Iran, and then it sent it through the roof," Cooper remarked. "Congress has got to say, 'Look, you've got to focus on what's happening at home.' We've got to make sure that we reduce gas prices and diesel prices for people, because transportation costs affect almost everything they buy." Cooper’s team also shared that Cooper for North Carolina has launched “Black Leaders for Roy” Coalition. The press release indicates that more than 125 Black leaders and supporters from across the state joined the launch of “Black Leaders for Roy.”
Despite Johnston County's conservative voting history, Cooper expressed confidence that his message of economic consensus would resonate across party lines. "First, I'm gonna be a senator for everybody, and I think it's critical to have someone who will work across the aisle to make government work," Cooper said. "I think people are tired of the partisanship where people are yelling at each other. You have to be willing to move in and gain consensus and compromise."
