Democrat Roy Cooper Flips North Carolina Senate Seat
Democrat Roy Cooper, a former two-term governor, defeated Michael Whatley, a candidate backed by President Donald Trump, in the North Carolina US Senate race. Cooper campaigned on the high cost of food and energy, while Trump's approval ratings fell. The win flips a Republican-held seat and moves Democrats closer to their goal of Senate control.
Context
Context: Senate control is decided by seats won in these midterm elections, which are held halfway through a US president's term. Whatley was endorsed by Trump, so the result is also being read as a test of the president's popularity.
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