ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — More than 100 members of the Asheville community gathered today to watch former North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper deliver an economy-focused speech in a stop on his campaign to win a seat in the United States Senate.
The event was held around 11 a.m. Friday, June 26, in the basement of Buncombe County Democratic Party Headquarters at 951 Old Fairview Road in Asheville.
“Make Stuff Cost Less”
The slogan of the Cooper U.S. Senate campaign is “Make Stuff Cost Less.” True to theme, the economy was the primary subject of the campaign event.
Two guest speakers at the meeting included Namurah Blakely, co-owner of Asheville business Quality Janitorial Group, and Christine Weinerth, an employee at a local retirement community. Blakely and Weinerth each spoke to the difficulties they had experienced with rising costs in Buncombe County and the relief they believe Cooper could bring them.
“We need leaders to understand when local businesses succeed, our community succeeds,” Blakely said in her remarks. “Roy Cooper understands that. 
As governor, he worked to expand [access] to affordable health care and strengthen our economy, all across North Carolina. And now, he’s running for the U.S. Senate.”
“Our grocery bill has gone up about $300 a month, our gas, $200 a month, and our utility bill, our Duke Energy bill, has doubled since 2022. This is unacceptable, and we need to make stuff cost less,” said Weinerth. “For his entire career, Roy Cooper has worked in service for the people of North Carolina. Roy understands that stuff costs too much, and he’s running for Senate to make life more affordable for the people of North Carolina.”
Other prominent attendees included political leaders from across the region, such as Asheville Mayor Esther Manheimer, Asheville City Council member Antanette Mosley, Weaverville Mayor Dee Lawrence and Woodfin Town Council member Dan Bowers.
Cooper campaign promises
In a speech touching on the importance of local businesses, reflecting on a career in state politics and criticizing political rival Michael Whatley, Cooper made his bid for the U.S. Senate to the room.
“So many families are just looking up at the middle class, hoping to be there. 
There are people thinking maybe the American dream is dead. There are people in the middle class who are barely hanging on,” Cooper told the crowd. “Washington is not only not doing anything about it, they are making it worse for these people. And that’s why I’m gonna step up and run for the United States Senate.”
If elected, Cooper promised to take “some good old North Carolina common sense to Washington.”
The former governor also focused on his advocacy work for affordable health care, including North Carolina’s Medical Debt Relief Program.
The 2024 policy united 99 eligible hospitals across the state, relieving over $6.5 billion in debt for 2.5 million North Carolina residents by Oct. 13, 2025, according to N.C. Gov. Josh Stein.
Cooper cited his work on that policy as an example of how he would put “the people over power, over party.”
“I am a prisoner of hope. 
I truly believe, I truly believe, that our best days are ahead of us,” Cooper said. “I see this as an opportunity. I see this as a wake up for our country. 
A lot of people have been burnt and we need to step up now more than ever. I believe when things are down, you can work to recreate them even better than they were before. 
We can make government more effective and efficient, and I believe that I can help.”