Undercover video exposes Dem Senate nominee’s plan to embrace socialists: ‘Got to be together’
Roy Cooper, the former North Carolina governor and Democratic Senate candidate, has said he would not sign the "Promise to America," a moderate Democratic pledge repudiating socialist positions, arguing that the party needs to be a "wide spectrum" that includes candidates aligned with the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA). His remarks, captured in undercover video footage obtained by Fox News Digital, come as he campaigns to succeed retiring Republican Senator Thom Tillis in a historically GOP-leaning state, and raise questions about whether moderate Democrats can reconcile their platforms with the DSA's more radical agenda.
The DSA advocates positions including abolishing the US Senate, public ownership of corporations and scrapping Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Cooper is not affiliated with or backed by the group and has publicly denied being a socialist or communist, pointing to his record of working with a Republican-led legislature during his 2017-2025 tenure as governor. His campaign said he pledges only to North Carolinians and will work with anyone, including Republicans. Republican Senator Ted Cruz countered that Democratic moderates are too afraid of their progressive flank to challenge it, claiming Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer is "terrified," while Cooper argued Democrats must "stick together" to avoid what he called a risk of "autocracy."
In short
- Roy Cooper declines to reject socialist-aligned Democrats, wants a "wide spectrum" party.
- He denies being a socialist himself, despite DSA's radical platform.
- GOP's Ted Cruz says Democrats are too scared to challenge their left flank.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Cooper’s position can be defended as an effort to keep a broad Democratic coalition together: candidates with different views can work jointly on shared priorities, while voters judge each candidate by their own record and commitments. He says he is not a socialist, points to his work with a Republican-led legislature, and argues that cooperation across the party is important to resisting what he sees as a risk of autocracy.
The case against
Critics can argue that refusing to repudiate the DSA’s agenda leaves voters uncertain about where Cooper draws firm policy lines, particularly given the group’s proposals to abolish the Senate, nationalise corporations and scrap ICE. In a competitive race, they may also see his call for party unity as a reluctance to challenge positions they regard as too far from the state’s political mainstream.
Explained simply
Roy Cooper is a Democrat who served as North Carolina’s governor from 2017 to 2025 and is now running for the US Senate. He governed while Republicans controlled the state legislature and says he is not a socialist or communist. He is not a member of, or backed by, the Democratic Socialists of America, a group that supports major changes to government and the economy.
The dispute reflects a wider debate within the Democratic Party about how to include progressive candidates while appealing to more moderate voters. Cooper says the party should be a broad coalition and work together; his campaign says he will answer to North Carolinians and work with Republicans. The race is for a seat held by retiring Republican Thom Tillis in a state that has often favoured Republicans, making the question of who can win support there significant.