Roy Cooper pulled in $3.4 million within the first 24 hours of launching his Senate bid, a record haul for the former North Carolina governor and an early show of strength in one of the nation’s most competitive Senate races.

The fundraising launch was powered by small-dollar donors, according to the campaign. In the first 24 hours, 95% of contributions were $100 or less. Cooper brought in $2.6 million directly to the campaign, with nearly $900,000 more raised for the Democratic Party through joint fundraising efforts, pushing the total above $3.4 million.

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Jeff Allen, Cooper’s campaign manager, said the surge of support reflects Cooper’s broad appeal and track record.

 “Roy Cooper has a long record of being an independent voice for our state and getting real results for middle class families by expanding health care for 670,000 people, eliminating $4 billion in medical debt for 2 million North Carolinians, and creating more than 600,000 jobs as Governor,” Allen said in a statement.

Cooper’s first-day haul surpassed the previous record for a Democratic Senate candidate, edging out Amy McGrath’s $2.5 million launch total in Kentucky’s 2020 race. Despite her strong fundraising, McGrath ultimately lost her challenge to Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY).

After two terms as governor, Cooper is jumping into the race to replace retiring Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC). He has broad name recognition, a well-established statewide network, and a track record of winning in a battleground that has leaned Republican in federal elections. His entry gives Democrats a rare offensive opportunity in a cycle where most of the Senate map works against them.

DEMOCRATS BELIEVE ROY COOPER IS A ‘GAME-CHANGER’ IN NORTH CAROLINA SENATE RACE

The race is expected to pit Cooper against Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Whatley, who has secured President Donald Trump’s “complete and total endorsement.” Whatley is expected to launch a campaign in the coming days.

As Democrats’ top recruit, Cooper was widely expected to draw major funding, thanks in part to the national donor network he built while leading the Democratic Governors Association. On the Republican side, Whatley has cultivated his own base of national supporters since taking over the RNC, setting the stage for one of the most expensive Senate contests for the 2026 midterm elections.