Roy Cooper focuses on cost of living in North Carolina Senate race

Roy Cooper is centering his North Carolina Senate campaign on the rising cost of living, specifically targeting affordability issues in Charlotte such as housing and utility costs. Cooper argues that federal policies, including tariffs, exacerbate these burdens. His Republican opponent, Michael Whatley, has countered by blaming Democratic policies for economic difficulties and attempting to shift the campaign focus toward crime and cultural issues. The race has gained national attention following the involvement of Donald Trump, who campaigned with Whatley in Gastonia.

Separately, details have emerged regarding a long-standing defamation issue from Cooper’s first statewide campaign. Cooper previously settled a lawsuit for $75,000 and issued a written apology after a false attack ad accused Republican opponent Dan Boyce of charging an exorbitant hourly legal fee. Cooper admitted to personally altering the language in the commercial to include the disputed figure, which was actually a judge’s calculation regarding a case involving Boyce’s father.