Roy Cooper

Democrat

Former Governor of North Carolina

Non-Incumbent · Public Record

PIP Political Integrity Pledge · Political Integrity PAC

No Corporate PAC Money
Stock Trading Ban
Lobbying Ban for Former Members
Overturn Citizens United

Primary: November 3, 2026 Last updated 2026-04-27

81.8%

Top positive drivers

T1 As governor held press conferences, toured all 100 NC counties; Senate campaign "Make Stuff Cost Less" tour across NC with rallies in Durham, Kinston, Fayetteville, Brunswick County. 4/4
T7 Extensive media appearances across NC spectrum; editorial board engagements; press conferences; Senate campaign with NPR, WRAL, ABC11, CNN, WUNC, local papers. 4/4
T9 As governor: regular press releases, executive orders, State of the State addresses, farewell address series; campaign: active releases, social media, "Make Stuff Cost Less" tour. 4/4

Top negative drivers

T15 No evidence of specific AI transparency position; no named AI disclosure mechanism; NC attracted tech companies but no AI governance framework; genuine gap. 1/4

View all 25 criteria

T1 As governor held press conferences, toured all 100 NC counties; Senate campaign "Make Stuff Cost Less" tour across NC with rallies in Durham, Kinston, Fayetteville, Brunswick County. 4/4
T2 Supports congressional stock trading ban; filed state ethics disclosures as governor; no evidence of voluntary extra disclosure beyond legal minimums. 2.88/4
T3 Supports banning stock trades for top federal officials; never owned individual stocks while governor per state ethics filings; assets in mutual funds and land. 3.75/4
T4 Has NOT taken no-corporate-PAC pledge; FEC shows $648K from PACs; has taken insurance industry PAC money; 38% unitemized small-dollar; no formal rejection of corporate PACs. 2.88/4
T5 FEC filings available; no proactive donor disclosure on campaign website; no published donor breakdowns; at $26.8M total receipts, standard FEC compliance only. 2.88/4
T6 As governor: extensive press conferences, farewell address series explaining reasoning; campaign explains positions on tariffs, healthcare, affordability; 104 vetoes with stated rationale. 3.13/4
T7 Extensive media appearances across NC spectrum; editorial board engagements; press conferences; Senate campaign with NPR, WRAL, ABC11, CNN, WUNC, local papers. 4/4
T8 NEA/NCAE endorsement; NC AFL-CIO; AFGE; DMFI PAC; J Street PAC; VoteSmart Political Courage Test taken; multiple published questionnaire responses. 3.75/4
T9 As governor: regular press releases, executive orders, State of the State addresses, farewell address series; campaign: active releases, social media, "Make Stuff Cost Less" tour. 4/4
T10 "Make Stuff Cost Less" translates policy into household terms; uses concrete examples (grocery prices, healthcare costs, tariff impacts on farmers); plain-language style. 3.75/4
T11 As governor: Medicaid expansion brought transparency to healthcare costs for 600K+; $4B medical debt relief; campaign roundtable on healthcare costs. 3.13/4
T12 As governor: proposed $160M housing investment (largest in decade); $575M COVID housing investment; Housing Trust Fund; Workforce Housing Loan Program; down payment assistance. 3.13/4
T13 Identifies grocery price drivers (corporate mergers, algorithmic pricing, tariffs); proposes banning algorithmic pricing; AG record: consumer protection settlements. 3.13/4
T14 Proposed balanced budgets with detailed line items; Clean Energy spending dashboards; ARPA investment recommendations with public reporting. 3.13/4
T15 No evidence of specific AI transparency position; no named AI disclosure mechanism; NC attracted tech companies but no AI governance framework; genuine gap. 1/4
T16 Signed HB 536 (duty to intervene/report excessive force); TREC task force (racial equity in criminal justice); independent shooting investigations; misconduct databases. 4/4
T17 Limited evidence of specific immigration system transparency positions; general divergence from opponent on immigration but no specific transparency mechanisms articulated. 1.25/4
T18 "Year of Public Schools" initiative 2024; invested $1.1B in childcare stabilization; teacher pay tracking; school funding accountability; proposed per-pupil increases. 3.13/4
T19 Vetoed bills to restructure elections board; fought Republican power grabs; signed 2020 election integrity pledge; as AG opposed voter ID law; helped pass governor veto power amendment. 4/4
T20 104 vetoes blocking legislation he opposed; executive orders for agency accountability; environmental justice EO with reporting requirements; reentry coordination EO. 3.13/4
T21 Regular press conferences as governor; campaign press releases and media engagement; senior adviser acknowledged "slow" records response and pledged to improve; mixed record. 3.13/4
T22 PolitiFact: ~26 checks total, 3 True, 9 Mostly True, 9 Half True, 4 Mostly False, 1 False, 0 Pants on Fire; Coop-O-Meter tracked governor promises; mostly accurate. 4/4
T23 No specific whistleblower protection legislation or position identified; general support for accountability through TREC and oversight mechanisms. 1.25/4
T24 As legislator: strengthened open meetings law; as AG: published Guide to Open Government; settled records case; as governor: mixed record with slow compliance. 3.13/4
T25 Medicaid expansion promised and delivered; clean energy EO 80 and HB 951 enacted; teacher pay 19% increase; HB2 repeal negotiated; stock trading ban consistent; 0 major contradictions. 4/4

85.8%

Top positive drivers

E9 Medicaid: 600K+ enrolled; Clean energy: 20K jobs, $24B investment, CNBC #1 state; teacher pay 19%; HB2 repeal; AG: first-in-nation Predatory Lending Law; multiple verified results. 4.25/4
E13 Bipartisan HB 951: 70% carbon reduction by 2030, carbon neutrality by 2050; EO 80 clean energy transition; 20K+ clean energy jobs; $24B investment; offshore wind commitments. 4.25/4
E2 Medicaid expansion grounded in decades of evidence; clean energy based on climate science; TREC based on racial disparity data; COVID response followed public health guidance. 4/4

View all 25 criteria

E1 Clean energy: 70% reduction by 2030, carbon neutrality by 2050 (measurable); Medicaid enrollment tracking (600K benchmark); CORE program with strategic plans. 3.13/4
E2 Medicaid expansion grounded in decades of evidence; clean energy based on climate science; TREC based on racial disparity data; COVID response followed public health guidance. 4/4
E3 Budget proposals with outcome measures; CNBC #1 state as metric; teacher pay tracking; Medicaid enrollment vs projections; environmental justice advisory council. 3.13/4
E4 Toured all 100 NC counties; disaster response (Florence, Helene); "Make Stuff Cost Less" tour with roundtables and rallies across NC. 4/4
E5 Created nation's first Office of Digital Opportunity; $1B+ broadband investment connecting 300K+ homes/businesses; GREAT grants ($345M to 91 counties). 3.13/4
E6 Managed $30B+ state budgets; Hurricane Florence/Helene response (1,400+ rescues, 700K lbs supplies); Medicaid enrollment (600K in half projected time); $26.8M raised, $0 debt. 4/4
E7 Negotiated Medicaid expansion with Republican supermajority; bipartisan HB2 repeal; bipartisan HB 951 clean energy; criminal justice reform with bipartisan support. 4/4
E8 8 years managing state government; phased Medicaid expansion; broadband rollout with county-by-county grants; clean energy transition with utility commission process. 4/4
E9 Medicaid: 600K+ enrolled; Clean energy: 20K jobs, $24B investment, CNBC #1 state; teacher pay 19%; HB2 repeal; AG: first-in-nation Predatory Lending Law; multiple verified results. 4.25/4
E10 Supports recreating FEMA; congressional stock trading ban; created Office of Digital Opportunity; executive order on reentry coordination; environmental justice advisory council. 3.13/4
E11 Medicaid expansion: 600K+ covered in half projected time; $4B medical debt relief; $835M behavioral health investment; ACA premium tax credit reinstatement. 4/4
E12 $160M housing investment proposal; $575M COVID housing response; Housing Trust Fund; Workforce Housing Loan Program; but no specific housing production targets or zoning reform. 3.13/4
E13 Bipartisan HB 951: 70% carbon reduction by 2030, carbon neutrality by 2050; EO 80 clean energy transition; 20K+ clean energy jobs; $24B investment; offshore wind commitments. 4.25/4
E14 Limited specific positions on immigration system efficiency; no specific processing/backlog reform mechanism named; general position only. 1.25/4
E15 Teacher pay raised 19%; $1.1B childcare stabilization; "Year of Public Schools"; NEA/NCAE endorsement; proposed $46K starting salary. 3.13/4
E16 TREC task force with evidence-based recommendations; criminal justice reform bills signed; reduced crime during AG tenure; mental health screening. 3.13/4
E17 640K new jobs during governorship; CNBC #1 state for business; $23.7M STEPs4GROWTH clean energy workforce; CORE program; GREAT broadband grants for rural workforce. 4/4
E18 Proposed balanced budgets; maintained healthy state reserves; vetoed wasteful legislation; general commitment to fiscal responsibility; no specific waste identification. 3.13/4
E19 $1.5B+ broadband deployment; $345M GREAT grants to 91 counties; 300K+ homes connected; Hurricane recovery coordination; clean energy infrastructure ($24B). 4/4
E20 Backs conditions on Homeland Security funding; general security awareness; no specific cost-effectiveness framing or diplomacy-first mechanisms named. 1.25/4
E21 Hurricane response with rapid emergency declarations and 1400+ rescues; Medicaid enrollment hit 600K in half projected time; COVID swift executive orders. 3.13/4
E22 Proposed balanced budgets maintaining healthy reserves; vetoed fiscally irresponsible bills; opposes tariffs; supports ACA credits; generally responsible but no specific deficit plan. 3.13/4
E23 Environmental justice advisory council report with 14 recommendations; TREC recommendations led to signed legislation; COVID task force findings implemented. 3.13/4
E24 Wants to "recreate FEMA"; Medicaid expansion after years of NC refusal; HB2 repeal when bathroom bill hurt economy; clean energy transition from fossil fuels. 3.13/4
E25 Oversight of all state agencies; executive orders directing agency action; environmental justice directives; COVID agency coordination; no specific federal IG positions. 3.13/4

92.3%

Top positive drivers

A11 Medicaid expansion: 600K+ covered; $4B medical debt relief for 2M North Carolinians; $835M behavioral health; ACA premium tax credit reinstatement; cap prescription costs. 4.25/4
A1 "Make Stuff Cost Less" tour across NC; discusses grocery, healthcare, childcare, housing, utility, tariff costs; roundtables with working families; documented prior-role engagement. 4/4
A6 Campaign launched in direct response to cost-of-living crisis; opposes tariffs raising prices; roundtable on healthcare; as governor responded to COVID with $575M housing, $1.1B childcare. 4/4

View all 25 criteria

A1 "Make Stuff Cost Less" tour across NC; discusses grocery, healthcare, childcare, housing, utility, tariff costs; roundtables with working families; documented prior-role engagement. 4/4
A2 References 600K Medicaid enrollees, 640K jobs, 19% teacher pay increase, $24B clean energy, CNBC rankings; PolitiFact checked (under 3 false economic claims). 3.75/4
A3 As governor: Medicaid expansion, $4B medical debt relief, $1.1B childcare stabilization, Housing Trust Fund, down payment assistance, LIHEAP coordination. 3.13/4
A4 Proposes blocking grocery chain mergers; banning algorithmic pricing; barring coordinated pricing software; AG fought predatory lenders, drug companies, banks. 3.75/4
A5 Frames policies in household terms ("make stuff cost less"); discusses tariff impact on families and farmers; but no specific dollar estimates per household cited. 3.13/4
A6 Campaign launched in direct response to cost-of-living crisis; opposes tariffs raising prices; roundtable on healthcare; as governor responded to COVID with $575M housing, $1.1B childcare. 4/4
A7 Opposes tariffs; redirected ARPA funds to housing and childcare ($575M + $1.1B); proposed redirecting budget priorities to education and healthcare. 3.13/4
A8 Targets insurance companies, grocery chains, food companies for price manipulation; banning algorithmic pricing; AG record: billions returned from drug companies, predatory lenders, banks. 4/4
A9 "Make Stuff Cost Less" is working-family framing; discusses policies for hardworking families, young parents, farmers, veterans; translates tariffs to grocery impact. 3.75/4
A10 Affordability is THE central campaign theme; as governor: Medicaid, teacher pay, childcare, housing were top priorities; "Make Stuff Cost Less" is literal slogan. 4/4
A11 Medicaid expansion: 600K+ covered; $4B medical debt relief for 2M North Carolinians; $835M behavioral health; ACA premium tax credit reinstatement; cap prescription costs. 4.25/4
A12 $160M housing investment; Housing Trust Fund; Workforce Housing Loan Program; $575M COVID housing; down payment assistance; but no production targets or zoning reform for Senate. 3.13/4
A13 $1.1B childcare stabilization grants; teacher pay raise 19%; proposed $46K starting salary; early childhood investment; but no specific higher ed affordability proposals. 3.13/4
A14 Vetoed Republican corporate tax cuts; proposed cutting unemployment taxes on small businesses; but no specific named federal tax provisions for Senate race. 2.88/4
A15 AG pioneered 1999 Predatory Lending Law (first in nation); billions returned to consumers; campaign: banning algorithmic pricing, blocking grocery mergers, opposing junk fees. 4/4
A16 Supports minimum wage increase (long advocated); 640K jobs added; teacher pay up 19%; state employee minimum wage raised to $15; but no specific federal target. 3.13/4
A17 Campaign 4-point plan: oppose tariffs, block grocery mergers, ban algorithmic pricing, ban coordinated pricing software; names specific cost drivers and mechanisms. 3.75/4
A18 HB 951 clean energy as cost reduction; $24B clean energy investment for cheaper power; LIHEAP coordination; weatherization programs; EV incentives. 4/4
A19 Clean transportation work group (EO 246); EV incentive support; broadband reducing commuting; but no specific transit, fare reform, or commuter benefit proposals. 2.88/4
A20 "Make Stuff Cost Less" connects healthcare, housing, childcare, energy, food, tariffs into coherent strategy; root-cause framing; quantifiable governor record demonstrating execution. 4/4
A21 Medicaid expansion delivered; housing investment delivered; childcare investment delivered; teacher pay raised; vetoed corporate tax cuts; consistent across 3+ areas. 4/4
A22 Expanded Medicaid (strongest defense = expansion); protect ACA; reinstate premium tax credits; opposes VA gutting; vetoed bills harming public education funding. 4/4
A23 Medicaid targeted 600K lowest-income; $4B medical debt for 2M low/middle-income; environmental justice EO; TREC; housing for low-income seniors, first-time homebuyers, teachers. 4/4
A24 Policies span workers, families, seniors, students, small business, rural communities; covers healthcare, housing, energy, food, childcare; broad population coverage. 4/4
A25 AFL-CIO; AFGE; NEA/NCAE; DMFI PAC; J Street PAC; labor, education, and consumer sectors represented. 3.75/4

Scored from publicly available information. Research in progress.

Platform research is in progress.

Non-Incumbent · Public Record

Scored on publicly available information only — platform statements, prior office, news coverage. Same criteria as the Questionnaire pathway, without direct candidate input.

Scoring Summary

Axis	Base	Pledge Bonus	Final
Transparency	81.8%	—	81.8%
Efficiency	85.8%	—	85.8%
Affordability	92.3%	—	92.3%
Overall TEA	Average of the three axes		86.6%

Read the full methodology →

Financial Breakdown

Financial detail — individual giving, PAC contributions, transfers, and personal finances — will appear here when FEC data ingestion ships. This tab is reserved so the layout stays consistent when the feature launches.