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Obama Endorses Roy Cooper as Poll Shows 50%

By Drooid · Oct 18, 2026, 2:53 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Obama Endorses Cooper

Former President Barack Obama endorsed Roy Cooper for the North Carolina Senate seat on Oct. 13.
A Carolina Forward poll of 829 likely voters on Oct. 13 gave Cooper 50% and Republican candidate Whatley 40%.
Cooper highlighted his 2023 Medicaid expansion that covered over 700,000 residents.
Republican super PAC paused North Carolina TV ads less than three weeks before the Nov. 3 election (i.e., the pause occurred within a three-week window prior to the election).

Summary

Cooper Early Voting

Roy Cooper and Michael Whatley voted early, marking North Carolina’s first in-person early-voting day.
Cooper voted Thursday, Oct. 15, and Whatley voted Friday, Oct. 16, in Gastonia.
Early voting runs through Saturday, Oct. 31, giving voters roughly a two-week window to cast ballots.
The race pits former Democratic Governor Roy Cooper against former RNC chair Michael Whatley, highlighting a state-versus-national experience divide.

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Obama Endorses Cooper

Former President Barack Obama endorsed Roy Cooper for the North Carolina Senate seat on Oct. 13.
A Carolina Forward poll of 829 likely voters on Oct. 13 gave Cooper 50% and Republican candidate Whatley 40%.
Cooper highlighted his 2023 Medicaid expansion that covered over 700,000 residents.
Republican super PAC paused North Carolina TV ads less than three weeks before the Nov. 3 election (i.e., the pause occurred within a three-week window prior to the election).

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