Senate Showdown: Democrats' Best Shot vs. GOP's Biggest Election Denier | Gov. Roy Cooper

North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper just won his Senate primary — and he may be Democrats' best shot at flipping the U.S. Senate. In this video, Gov. Cooper tells Marc Elias why he's running, what's at stake, and why North Carolina is the #1 red-to-blue Senate seat in the country.

Cooper breaks down his record as governor — 640,000 new jobs, Medicaid expansion for 715,000 North Carolinians, and a commitment to carbon zero by

2050 — and explains why all of it is now at risk. He also takes on his opponent, Michael Watley: a DC insider, big oil lobbyist, and 2020 election denier who served as what Marc Elias calls "the field general of election deniers."

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00:00 The Stakes of the 2026 Elections

01:16 Why Roy Cooper Is Running for Senate

04:41 Cooper’s Record as Governor of North Carolina

10:09 Fighting Voter Suppression and Election Denial

16:05 The Battle Over North Carolina’s Board of Elections

22:04 The Moore v. Harper Case and the Fight Over Election Law

22:51 Restoring Separation of Powers in Washington

28:11 Taking On Michael Whatley and the Election Denial Movement

37:21 Cooper’s Final Message to Voters