The senate seat, currently held by Republican Thom Tillis, is suddenly up for grabs after Tillis announced over the weekend he would not seek re-election.
Already expecting a tough re-election bid against Roy Cooper (pictured at right), Tillis was criticized by President Trump for opposing the GOP’s reconciliation bill, making any support from Trump doubtful.
Tillis, described as a "moderate" Republican, was already unpopular among many voters for supporting LGBT rights and opposing deportation of illegal aliens. His liberal views were bad enough to be censured by the North Carolina Republican Party in 2023.
Cooper, who was already expected to run for the seat, is now all but assured to jump into the race, according to an Axios story.
AFR show host Dr. Alex McFarland, a North Carolina resident, tells AFN it looks like Tillis “read the tea leaves” and wisely decided to step back.
“He's not going to be able to beat Roy Cooper,” McFarland says.
Cooper, who served two terms as governor, finished his second term in 2024. To win the second term, in 2020, Cooper defeated Lt. Gov. Dan Forest 51.5%-47% after outraising the Republican by a whopping $13 million.
Trump won North Carolina last November by nearly the same percentage, 51%-47.8%.
McFarland predicts Cooper could win the senate seat next year but says he is hopeful Lara Trump, President Trump’ daughter-in-law, will enter the race for the Republican nomination.
Lara Trump, who is married to Eric Trump, is a former RNC vice chair who is now a Fox News host.
“I'm not the most astute voice to listen to on such matters,” he says, “but if I were a betting man I would put my money on Lara Trump just for lot of reasons."
