(The Center Square) – Just more than four weeks until each is expected to prevail in large volume primaries for a U.S. Senate seat representing North Carolina, Democrat Roy Cooper is openly critical of two deaths during the enhanced enforcement of federal immigration law in Minnesota.
Republican Michael Whatley is a bit quieter.
Cooper is one of six in the Democrats’ primary, Whatley one of seven Republicans. Libertarian Shannon Bray of Angier awaits in the general election. Early mail-in voting started Jan. 12; voter registration deadline is Feb. 6; and in-person early voting starts Feb. 12.
The primary is March 3.
“American citizens are killed while exercising their First – and Second – Amendment rights,” Cooper said on Tuesday. “The videos we’ve seen are horrific and Americans deserve answers.”
Cooper is referring to the deaths on Jan. 7 of Renee Good and Jan. 21 of Alex Pretti, each killed in Minnesota amid Operation Metro Surge in Minneapolis and St. Paul. There’s video of each being fatally shot; to go with the footage are differing accounts on the details.
Not in dispute: Each was in engagement with a federal agent during enhanced enforcement of federal immigration law.
In the case of Pretti, his family and the family’s lawyer confirmed a Jan. 13 video showing him spit at a lawman and kick in a vehicle taillight. They said he had told his family about the encounter.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, in each incident, said defensive shots were fired when agents feared for their lives. In the case of Good, she was behind the wheel of her vehicle when it hit an agent.
“I locked up violent criminals as attorney general,” Cooper said. “I know that the public’s trust in law enforcement and government is crucial for public safety. Yet despite clear video evidence this administration is telling us not to believe our own eyes.”
Cooper had four four-year terms as top prosecutor in the state before two four-year terms as governor. Republicans say he is soft on crime, helping revolving doors in the judicial system. His record includes veto of legislation to have all 100 county sheriffs cooperate with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. He also walked with demonstrators after George Floyd’s death, and demonstrators at the time were responsible for pillaging and setting fire to downtown Raleigh.
Whatley, former chairman of the Republican National Committee and the state’s Republican Party, has praised “strong, decisive action” in North Carolina by Homeland Security. He has campaigned, among other top priorities, on prioritizing community and school safety, and national security.
“The Democrats have one agenda right now, which is to oppose President Trump,” Whatley said in a network interview. “That’s why they’re fighting for open borders, that’s why they’re fighting for inflationary spending, and that’s why they’re fighting for a weak, woke America. That’s not what the voters of North Carolina want. My opponent, Roy Cooper, is a card-carrying member of that woke mob.”
At the outset of the failed 107-day presidential campaign of Democrat Kamala Harris, Cooper was a leading candidate to be on the ticket with her as vice president. He ultimately chose to remove himself from consideration and emphatically backed the choice of Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz. Two members of his administration landed jobs with former President Joe Biden’s team – Michael Regan at the Environmental Protection Agency, and Dr. Mandy Cohen at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Walz and his administration are now the subject of investigations into fraud related to people who may or may not be legally in the United States. Billions of taxpayer dollars are in question. He was also exposed on the campaign trail last fall for stolen valor related to coins he handed out during successful congressional campaigns, and for his actions at the time he left the Army National Guard just prior to his unit’s deployment.
Cooper, this month in a Charlotte roundtable, spoke about rising prices for everyday staples like groceries, child care and rent. He’s criticized the One Big Beautiful Bill Act signed on July 4 by second-term Republican President Donald Trump, as well as foreign policy on trade.
He believes “immediate reforms” are needed for federal immigration enforcement.
His party has attacked Whatley repeatedly about being named Trump’s czar for recovery from Hurricane Helene. Cooper himself was governor during two catastrophic hurricanes, with his embattled North Carolina Office of Recovery and Resiliency after Hurricanes Matthew (2016) and Florence (2018) eventually being exposed for severe debt problems and lack of success in rebuilding projects.
His friend and successor to governor, Josh Stein, didn’t even continue the office once sworn in.
Whatley’s messages include “results families deserve” and “strong conservative leadership.” He is campaigning on economic relief through job creation, wage increases and lower prices. He’s called attention to the military and North Carolina’s role as home to five major installations plus a U.S. Coast Guard station and Army port.
Saturday is the deadline for year-end reporting in campaign finances, and Cooper’s position is expected to be stronger.
Published reports from the campaign office say Cooper raised more than $9.5 million between October and December, and $14.5 million in the first 65 days of the campaign launch that began July 28.
Whatley, published reports from the campaign office say, raised $5.1 million in the fourth quarter and $6 million in the third quarter following a campaign launch on July 31.
Cooper, from Raleigh, leads the Democrats’ primary that includes Jacksonville’s Daryl Farrow, Concord’s Justin Dues, Rocky Point’s Robert Colon, Wilmington’s Marcus Williams and High Point’s Orrick Quick.
Whatley, of Gastonia, leads the Republicans’ primary that includes Charlotte’s Margot Dupre, Durham’s Richard Dansie, Waxhaw’s Don Brown, Smithfield’s Elizabeth Temple, Cary’s Michele Morrow and Garner’s Thomas Johnson.
