Former North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper is the Democrat nominee in the Senate race to replace Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC), who is retiring after this term. Former RNC Chairman Michael Whatley is the Trump-endorsed GOP nominee, and he has absolutely been hammering Cooper's track record on crime, complete with receipts.
Cooper's reign of error came under more intense scrutiny after the murder of 23-year-old Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska on Charlotte's light rail system last August. The suspect charged with her murder at both the state and federal levels is 35-year-old DeCarlos Brown, Jr., a violent repeat offender who was well known to police and who was released under Cooper's watch.
A week ago, a searchable database called CooperReleasedHim.com debuted, as RedState reported. It provided more details than previously known on not just which convicted criminals were released under a COVID-era settlement between the then-Gov. Roy Cooper-AG Josh Stein administration and civil rights groups, but also which ones went on to commit criminal offenses again.
The database revealed that "2,412 of the 4,234 inmates released under the settlement later committed additional crimes or post-release violations, a reoffense rate of nearly 57 percent." Further, "at least 18 of those released inmates were later charged with murder."
With all of that and "restorative justice" groups dragging him further left during his time as governor and AG in mind, it will surprise absolutely no one to learn that when the George Floyd riots first started in late spring of 2020, then-Gov. Cooper was rushed to safety as fires burned while residents and businesses in the state capital of Raleigh received limited help from law enforcement:
New from me at @nsjnews
— A.P. Dillon (@APDillon_) May 12, 2026
Multiple former law enforcement independently confirm then-Gov. Roy Cooper was evacuated from the exec. mansion while Raleigh businesses & residents were left unprotected during George Floyd riots of May 2020. #ncpol https://t.co/ugclXPeu0l
For important context, Cooper - like many Democrats at the time - repeatedly coddled the looters and rioters and praised their efforts.
From the story:
North State Journal (NSJ) has learned from former law enforcement officers who were in Raleigh helping to quell the rioting that then-Gov. Roy Cooper was evacuated from the Executive Mansion to outside the city during [the early days of] the unrest.
[...]
Between 500 and 1,000 people were estimated to have gathered in the downtown Raleigh area on May 30, 2020, to protest, and skirmishes with police began by early that evening.
[...]
A former officer confirmed to NSJ that protesters had approached the area of the governor’s mansion on the night of May 31 and were observed throwing objects, including water bottles and bricks.
Former NCSHP members on duty that night said they were ordered to split off from assisting Raleigh Police and were diverted on foot to intervene at the Executive Mansion because the law enforcement presence at the mansion was “worried they were going to be overrun.”
[...]
By the afternoon of May 31, then-Raleigh Mayor Mary-Ann Baldwin had signed a state of emergency declaration giving her the ability to request the National Guard, but a city spokesperson indicated she had not yet opted to do so.
Earlier in the day, then-Raleigh Police Chief Cassandra Deck-Brown held a press conference about the riots that took place the night before. At that time, Deck-Brown said their plan on Saturday night did not include requesting National Guard assistance.
RedState wrote about Deck-Brown's astonishing comments at the time:
Deck-Brown mentioned that a number of officers were injured during the protests and that the police force did not just sit back and let violence happen. A reporter mentioned to Deck-Brown about how some businesses felt like police did not do enough to control the situation and to protect their property. Deck-Brown was then asked how she could assure those business owners that they should feel safe.
Here's how she answered:
Message to rioters: it's open season on private property. #ncpol https://t.co/jEyXlC7WtC
— Sister Toldjah 💙 (@sistertoldjah) June 1, 2020
Yours truly called out the appalling leadership failures:
Last month in Raleigh you'd get arrested for not social distancing during a reopen protest. But this month during a different protest you can get away with looting and property destruction. Unbelievable and shameful. #ncpol
— Sister Toldjah 💙 (@sistertoldjah) June 1, 2020
Also, a reopen protester was arrested last month for allegedly "damaging" the governor's security fence. But small biz owners have just been told they are on their own with rioters and looters. I guess protecting the governor's mansion gates is the real priority here. #ncpol
— Sister Toldjah 💙 (@sistertoldjah) June 1, 2020
Reminder that this same PD said last month during reopen protests that protesting was not an essential activity. Sick of the political double standards constantly on display in this state. #ncpol https://t.co/fmp5jl7Qdg
— Sister Toldjah 💙 (@sistertoldjah) June 1, 2020
Cooper appeared to agree with Deck-Brown's sentiment, stating, "Let me be clear. People are more important than property. Black lives do matter." Ultimately, he ended up deploying about 100 National Guard troops, mainly to protect state property like the state's Supreme Court building. He also infamously would later march in solidarity with the "peaceful protesters" while unmasked, which was, of course, another violation of one of his many COVID "rules for thee" mandates about masking and public gatherings:
NC Gov. Roy Cooper says NO to RNC Convention . His argument: “ Neither public health officials nor I will risk the health and safety of North Carolinians by providing the guarantee you seek.” Exhibit #1: Cooper meeting protesters this weekend 👇pic.twitter.com/L0Y1tKVGuD
— VeBee🇺🇸✝️ (@VeBo1991) June 2, 2020
As North Carolinians & police in Raleigh were overrun by rioters in 2020, @RoyCooperNC abandoned ship while keeping the Guard outside of downtown. Only returning for a photo op and to put his Trooper's safety at risk.
— Chris Olmstead (@ct_olmstead) May 12, 2026
What a perfect synopsis of his nearly 40 year record. https://t.co/4milUNUD5v
NC GOP Leaders Threaten Legal Action Against Governor After PD Cites EO in 'Reopen' Protest Arrest
Cooper has been on the receiving end of a large amount of favorable press coverage over the last 20 years or so from the Democrat-compliant media in this state, which is part of what's kept him in office despite the best efforts of North Carolina conservatives. But with such a long record in office and more ways to dig for the truth, there are also a lot of skeletons to be brought to light, and I assure you that the harsh glare of the spotlight is about to get a whole lot brighter for Cooper in the coming weeks. Stay tuned.
Editor’s Note: The 2026 Midterms will determine the fate of President Trump’s America First agenda. Republicans must maintain control of both chambers of Congress.
Please help RedState continue to report on the Democrats’ radicalism and inform voters as our nation faces a crossroads. Join RedState VIP and use promo code FIGHT to receive 60% off your membership.
Join the conversation as a VIP Member