How to Read This

Colors reflect constitutional accountability based on publicly verifiable conduct. They are not endorsements or predictions of election outcomes. Ratings are based on the severity, pattern, and context of conduct — not numerical averaging. A single serious breach is sufficient for a Red rating. Green requires affirmative evidence of restraint and accountability, particularly during moments when constitutional guardrails are tested.

Green — Clear constitutional compliance / restraint
Amber — Mixed, limited, or under-articulated record
Red — Clear or repeated constitutional breach
N/A — Not applicable or insufficient comparable evidence

Senate Scorecard — At a Glance

Candidate Use of Force Rule of Law Election Integrity
Roy Cooper (D) N/A¹
Michael Whatley (R) N/A¹

¹ Rule of Law — N/A: Rule of Law was marked Not Rated due to insufficient comparable, office-specific evidence across both candidates during the evaluation period. This reflects scope limitations, not performance.

Candidate Assessments

Roy Cooper
Democratic Candidate  ·  Former NC Governor
Use of Force: Green Rule of Law: N/A Election Integrity: Green

1. Use of Force — Green

What the Record Shows
  • Authorized National Guard deployment (2021) through established legal channels, with federal consent and defined limits.
  • No evidence of force used to suppress lawful protest, political opposition, or electoral activity.
  • Publicly and unequivocally condemned the January 6 attack as illegitimate political violence.
  • Following fatal ICE actions in Minnesota, called for a full, transparent investigation and emphasized that law enforcement's role is to keep people safe — signaling that enforcement authority must be exercised lawfully and with restraint.
Why Green

Demonstrates consistent emphasis on lawful authorization, proportionality, and accountability when force is used. Draws a clear distinction between legitimate law enforcement and excessive or unjustified force, including at the federal level. Rejects the normalization of political or enforcement violence and supports review when force results in loss of life.

2. Election Integrity — Green

What the Record Shows
  • Vetoed multiple election bills (SB 326, SB 747/749) on the grounds that they would exclude lawful ballots or weaken established election procedures.
  • Publicly condemned post-election litigation seeking to discard more than 60,000 certified votes in the NC Supreme Court Justice Allison Riggs election, calling it an "egregious attack on the right to vote."
  • Opposed opaque election funding practices (HB 237) and challenged efforts to politicize or consolidate control over election administration (SB 382).
Why Green

Demonstrates consistent respect for lawful process, certified outcomes, and judicial independence — even when politically disadvantageous. Treats the law as a binding framework for governance, not a tool to be bent or bypassed for political advantage.

Note: Rule of Law marked N/A by design due to insufficient comparable exposure in this contest.
Michael Whatley
Republican Candidate  ·  Former RNC Chair
Use of Force: Amber Rule of Law: N/A Election Integrity: Red

1. Use of Force — Amber

What the Record Shows
  • Has aligned with law-and-order rhetoric commonly associated with Republican leadership but has not articulated specific constitutional guardrails on enforcement authority.
  • Publicly denounced January 6 violence, though the condemnation was framed with reference to party politics rather than universal principles.
  • No clear public response to high-profile contested uses of force (e.g., the fatal ICE shooting in Minnesota), leaving ambiguity about how he would address excessive or unlawful force when it arises.
  • No evidence of emergency-powers abuse or advocacy of force against political opponents.
Why Amber

Law-and-order posture with broad support for enforcement, but no articulated guardrails on proportionality, restraint, or accountability. Condemnation of political violence is present but hedged; silence on contested use-of-force incidents, including the ICE actions in Minnesota, suggests a lack of clearly articulated principles governing restraint and accountability.

2. Election Integrity — Red

What the Record Shows
  • As state party chair, repeatedly promoted false claims of "massive fraud" following the 2020 election.
  • Continued to back fraud claims after results were certified by courts and election officials.
  • Publicly impugned election administrators in multiple states without evidence.
  • Accepted election outcomes selectively, depending on whether his party prevailed.
What Is Not Counted
  • Support for lawful recounts (neutral).
  • Intra-party litigation alleging misconduct in a party election (dismissed; contextual only).
Why Red

Sustained rejection of certified outcomes and lawful processes — not isolated rhetoric. Conduct treats the law and election certification as contingent on political advantage, undermining public trust in democratic institutions.

Note: Rule of Law marked N/A by design due to insufficient comparable exposure in this contest.

Sources

Roy Cooper

  1. NC Dept. of Public Safety (2021). Governor Mobilizes NC National Guard for Deployment in Raleigh and Washington, DC.
  2. WCNC (2021). 'America is better than this' | NC lawmakers, leaders condemn violence at Capitol.
  3. NC Political News (2026). Roy Cooper backs conditions on Homeland Security funding after Minnesota shootings.
  4. WRAL News (2021). Cooper vetoes plan to tighten deadline for absentee ballots.
  5. NC Newsline (2023). NC Gov. Cooper to veto expansive GOP elections bill.
  6. NC Newsline (2024). Governor Cooper vetoes bill that targets mask wearing, alters campaign finance laws.
  7. ABC11 (2024). Gov. Roy Cooper vetoes Senate Bill 382, calling it a 'sham.'
  8. NC Newsline (2025). Roy Cooper blasts 'egregious attack on the right to vote' in state Supreme Court race.
  9. NC General Assembly (2021). Ratified Senate Bill 326.
  10. NC General Assembly (2023). Senate Bill 747.
  11. NC General Assembly. House Bill 237.
  12. NC General Assembly. Senate Bill 382.
  13. NC General Assembly. Senate Bill 749.

Michael Whatley

  1. CNN (2024). Likely frontrunner for RNC chair parroted Trump's 2020 election lies.
  2. NC Political News (2026). Roy Cooper backs conditions on Homeland Security funding after Minnesota shootings.
  3. Fox News Video. North Carolina GOP Senate candidate says opponent's vetoes helped lead to ICE ops.
  4. Tennessee Lookout (2024). Trump's pick for RNC chief worked with top election denier's group.
  5. The Hill (2024). RNC Chair Whatley sidesteps question on if 2020 election was stolen.
  6. News From The States (2024). Trump's pick for RNC chief worked with top election denier's group.
  7. Soundcloud (2021). Mountain Voice with Leo Phillips — Airs 111420.
  8. Soundcloud (2024). Mountain Voice with Leo Phillips — Airs 011324.
  9. Soundcloud (2021). Mountain Voice with Leo Phillips — Airs 010221.