Industry · NC
Cooper Campaigns on Medicaid, ACA Subsidies in NC Senate Race
More than 1.1 million North Carolinians voted in the first week of early voting, with Democratic turnout and unaffiliated voter turnout outpacing the 2022 midterms. Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Roy Cooper is campaigning on affordability, including restoring Affordable Care Act premium tax credits and capping prescription drug costs, while touting his record expanding Medicaid as governor. Supporters at a Raleigh campaign event cited Medicaid cuts affecting therapy hours for clients and sharply rising health insurance premiums after federal ACA subsidies expired at the end of 2025. Cooper faces Republican Michael Whatley in a race rated "likely Democrat," with early voting continuing for ten more days.
Why it mattersThe election outcome could shape federal support for ACA subsidies and state-level Medicaid expansion policy, both of which directly affect coverage stability and provider reimbursement in North Carolina.