Roy Cooper's NC Senate bid faces dark‑money ties and economic focus

Former governor and current Senate candidate Roy Cooper of North Carolina is linked to the nonprofit dark‑money group Moving NC Forward. Records show the group’s executives and relatives received appointments to state boards during Cooper’s governorship, and the Hendrickson family contributed about $35,000 to Cooper’s Senate campaign. Moving NC Forward, a 501(c)(4) organization, can advocate politically without disclosing donors, raising questions about the influence of undisclosed funding.

Cooper’s campaign centres on lowering the cost of living, targeting grocery‑price algorithms, and expanding Medicaid despite a rise in state health‑care spending. He critiques utility rate hikes by Duke Energy and proposes reforms to data‑center and grid costs. Opponent Michael Whatley attacks Cooper on crime and aligns with former President Trump’s "America First" platform, framing the race as a pivotal battleground for Senate control.