A pro-abortion group issued a statement March 3 celebrating former North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper’s victory in the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate, casting the upcoming November race as a battle over abortion policy in the state.
Reproductive Freedom for All President and CEO Mini Timmaraju said in a press release that Cooper “has spent his career fighting for North Carolinians’ health care and reproductive freedom, and he’ll do the same in the U.S. Senate.”
The group criticized Cooper’s opponent — Republican nominee Michael Whatley — and labeled him an “anti-abortion extremist” who supports a nationwide abortion ban.
“The stakes couldn’t be higher, and the choice couldn’t be clearer: This race will determine whether North Carolina sends a proven champion to Washington or another vote for a national abortion ban,” the pro-abortion group stated. “Reproductive Freedom for All will do everything in our power to elect Roy Cooper in November and restore the fundamental freedoms Trump and his allies ripped away.”
Cooper captured the Democratic nomination with more than 92% of the vote against five challengers, according to AP Newsfinal tallies. Democrats believe Cooper will be a formidable candidate after winning the governor’s race in 2016 and 2020, even as President Donald Trump carried the state, NBC News reported. Trump again won North Carolina in 2024 by about three percentage points.
Whatley, a former Republican National Committee chair, secured the GOP nod with 64.6% of the vote and an endorsement from Trump. He has also received endorsements from pro-life organizations, including Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, which has committed significant funding to his campaign.
The open seat, vacated by soon-to-retire Republican Sen. Thom Tillis, will likely rank among the most competitive Senate races of 2026 as Republicans work to defend their 53-47 majority in the chamber.