In his first public event after news of his impending Senate campaign broke, former Governor Roy Cooper asked everyone in the audience planning to run for office in 2026 to please stand for a round of applause.

By Bo Erickson WASHINGTON (Reuters) -North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper launched his campaign for the U.S. Senate on Monday, offering his Democratic Party one of its best opportunities nationwide to win back a Republican-held seat in next year's midterm elections.

Name recognition and experience are among his advantages, but Triad professors say his strategy in this race will need to be different than previous campaigns.