Roy Cooper raised $14.5 million during the first 65 days of his campaign — a record-breaking total for a Senate challenger in their first fundraising quarter in one of the most competitive races of 2026.
The fundraising haul, shared first with POLITICO, includes $10.8 million into the former North Carolina governor’s campaign account. Another $3.7 million was raised into joint fundraising committees with the party, which allows for bigger contributions. Of the donations, more than 90 percent were $100 or less, Cooper’s campaign said.
It’s more than double what was raised by former Republican National Committee Chair Michael Whatley, who brought in $5.8 million since launching his campaign in July.
Whatley, who’s been endorsed by President Donald Trump, and Cooper are expected to face off next fall.
Cooper and Whatley, a prodigious fundraiser with his own national network of donors, have turned this already marquee contest into what is expected to be the most expensive Senate race in history. Operatives in both parties estimate spending to reach $650 million to $800 million.
Cooper’s first-quarter total beat the record set by Amy McGrath, the former Marine fighter pilot who challenged Sen. Mitch McConnell in 2020 and raised $10.7 million.
Democrats, locked out of power at every level in Washington, see North Carolina as their top offensive target, particularly after Cooper entered the race following the announced retirement of Republican Sen. Thom Tillis. Even so, Democrats face longshot odds in flipping control of the Senate in 2026.
