Vance Criticizes Cooper's Law Enforcement Stance Amidst Heated North Carolina Senate Race

RALEIGH, NC – The burgeoning 2026 U.S. Senate race in North Carolina has intensified with Vice President JD Vance launching a sharp critique against former Democratic Governor Roy Cooper, focusing on Cooper's past actions concerning law enforcement and the Black Lives Matter movement. The exchange highlights a key battleground issue as Cooper seeks to replace retiring Republican Senator Thom Tillis.

In a recent social media post, political commentator Nick Sortor quoted Vance directly, stating, > “Law enforcement arrested this thug 14 TIMES. It wasn't law enforcement that failed. It was weak politicians like YOU who kept letting him out of prison.” The tweet further asserted that Cooper “bashed cops and knelt with BLM.”

Former Governor Cooper, who officially announced his bid for the Senate seat in late July 2025, has a long political history in North Carolina, including 16 years as Attorney General before serving two terms as Governor. Democrats view his candidacy as a significant opportunity to flip a key Senate seat in a state that has not elected a Democratic senator since 2008. Early polling data from Emerson College in August 2025 showed Cooper with a six-point lead over likely Republican opponent Michael Whatley, the current Republican National Committee Chair.

Cooper's actions during the 2025 protests against police brutality, following the death of George Floyd, included kneeling with demonstrators outside the Executive Mansion in Raleigh. At the time, Cooper called for police reform and accountability, emphasizing the need for legislative action to address systemic issues in policing and acknowledging the pain felt by the Black community. This stance has drawn criticism from conservative figures like Vance, who frame such actions as undermining law enforcement.

The attack by Vance underscores a central theme Republicans are expected to leverage against Cooper: his record on crime and public safety. Republican groups, including the Senate Leadership Fund, have previously criticized Cooper's gubernatorial vetoes related to law enforcement and his administration's handling of certain issues. The 2026 North Carolina Senate race is anticipated to be one of the nation's most expensive and closely watched contests, with both parties investing heavily to secure the open seat.