Roy
Cooper

Roy Cooper is a lifelong public servant who has fought for North Carolina’s healthcare system, education, jobs, and access to clean energy.

Cooper has served North Carolina at every level. After graduating with a J.D. from the University of North Carolina, Cooper practiced law while tutoring at local public schools before getting elected as a state legislator, attorney general, and finally governor. In his two terms as governor, Cooper worked to create thousands of new jobs and protect North Carolina’s climate and clean energy sector. He signed multiple executive orders to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, develop offshore wind energy, and invest in North Carolinians to ensure they received the education, training, and resources to grow their careers. Cooper further championed North Carolina’s lands and water, establishing new targets for land conservation efforts, wetland restoration, and urban tree planting.

As a senator, Cooper will fight for energy affordability by advancing policies to deploy clean energy, modernize the grid, and stand up to polluting, energy-hungry data centers and tech companies.

Cooper joins the U.S. Senate after defeating Michael Whatley, who earned a spot on LCV Victory Fund’s 2026 Dirty Dozen, to fill the seat of retiring Senator Thom Tillis, who earned a 11% lifetime score on LCV’s National Environmental Scorecard.

“Every North Carolinian deserves access to safe drinking water, clean air, and a healthy environment. As governor, I worked to build a clean energy economy delivering good-paying jobs across our state.” – LCVAF Press Release