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North Carolina is heading into an open Senate race in 2026, in a state that has become one of the country’s most competitive political battlegrounds. With Senator Thom Tillis not seeking re-election, neither party enters the contest with an incumbent advantage. The race is widely expected to be among the most closely watched and most expensive Senate contests of the cycle. Turnout, coalition strength, and credibility will decide the outcome.

South Asian Americans now have a real stake in that decision.

Asian Americans make up roughly 4% of North Carolina’s population, a meaningful share in a state where statewide races are frequently decided by razor-thin margins. Between 2010 and 2020, North Carolina’s Asian American population grew by 68%, reaching more than 450,000 people, the fastest growth rate of any racial group in the state over that decade.

Wake County alone is home to tens of thousands of Indian Americans, driven by the expansion of the Research Triangle’s technology, health care, and research sectors. Cary, Morrisville, Apex, and northwest Raleigh now contain dense South Asian communities that are professionally rooted and civically engaged. Similar patterns are visible in Durham and Orange counties, while Mecklenburg County continues to grow alongside Charlotte’s finance and medical hubs.

This is not a transient population. It is a highly educated, economically anchored community that votes and is increasingly organized.

In an open Senate race, that matters.

But demographic growth alone does not justify political support. Governance does.

That reality is why South Asian voters should support Roy Cooper for the United States Senate. Over the last eight years, Cooper has governed in ways that have directly benefited our community, and he remains the strongest candidate to represent our interests in Washington.

Education as a Priority

Education sits at the center of South Asian civic life.

For many South Asian families in North Carolina, decisions about where to live are shaped by school quality, university rankings, and access to strong public institutions. The strength of local school districts, the reputation of the UNC system, and the ability to compete for spots at places like University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Duke University are not secondary considerations. They are often decisive ones.

Most South Asian families send their children to public schools, and many view higher education as the primary pathway to economic mobility. That makes education funding, teacher quality, and institutional credibility real, lived policy issues.

As Governor, Cooper treated public education as a priority. During his tenure, North Carolina increased average teacher pay by more than 20%, expanded workforce-aligned community college and technical training programs, and consistently defended the independence and credibility of the UNC system against political interference.

Those choices mattered. They helped stabilize public schools, protected the value of a UNC degree, and reinforced North Carolina’s reputation as a state where students can compete nationally and win.

These decisions were not always politically convenient. They rarely produced national headlines. But they preserved the conditions that make North Carolina attractive to families who value academic rigor, professional opportunity, and long-term mobility.

For South Asian parents navigating school districts, college admissions, and career prospects for their children, that kind of governance is tangible and consequential.

An Economy Built for Opportunity

Economic opportunity sits at the core of how South Asian families evaluate leadership.

On that front, Cooper’s record is clear.

During Cooper’s tenure as governor, North Carolina consistently ranked at or near the top nationally as a place to do business, earning multiple #1 business climate rankings. The state attracted tens of billions of dollars in private investment, particularly in advanced manufacturing, clean energy, biotechnology, and technology, sectors that have driven job creation across the state and helped anchor long-term growth.

Those investments translated into real employment gains, from engineers and researchers to health care workers and technicians trained through North Carolina’s community college system. Cooper understood that economic growth is strongest when education, workforce development, and private investment move together, not when they are treated as competing priorities.

Just as importantly, North Carolina’s growth under Cooper was paired with fiscal discipline. During his governorship, income tax rates declined, the corporate tax rate continued its downward trajectory, and the state maintained balanced budgets and strong credit ratings. Growth was not pursued through instability or short-term gimmicks, but through a governing approach that kept the state competitive while preserving investment in the institutions that make growth sustainable.

That balance mattered. Businesses expanded because they could plan with confidence. Workers stayed because opportunity felt durable. Families benefited from an economy that rewarded effort without sacrificing public education, workforce pipelines, or long-term competitiveness.

It is the same economic mindset Cooper would bring to the United States Senate, one grounded in growth, stability, and seriousness, and it is precisely the approach South Asian voters should want represented in Washington.

Recognition That Reflects Reality

Political trust is built through actions, especially when they are visible, specific, and timely.

As Governor, Cooper consistently treated South Asian North Carolinians as a permanent and respected part of the state’s civic life. During his tenure, Cooper issued official proclamations recognizing Diwali, Hindu Heritage Month, and the contributions of Indian Americans across health care, technology, education, and small business.

That recognition extended beyond paper. In October 2022, Cooper personally attended Diwali celebrations at the Sri Venkateswara Temple of North Carolina, where he unveiled the temple’s new 87-foot “Tower of Unity and Prosperity,” one of the tallest Hindu temple towers in North America. The moment was not incidental. It reflected a governor showing up publicly and visibly at a milestone for a community that has become central to the Research Triangle’s growth.

This mattered all the more during a period when anti-Asian rhetoric and hate crimes were rising nationally, leaving many South Asian and Asian American families uncertain about their safety and whether their voices would be heard. At a time when political leaders could have stayed silent or distant, Cooper chose engagement, signaling that South Asian institutions, traditions, and communities belonged fully in North Carolina’s public life.

For many in the South Asian community, that posture, respectful, present, and consistent, reinforced a basic but powerful message: that they are seen, that their contributions matter, and that their government recognizes them with dignity.

That kind of leadership builds confidence. And it is the kind of representation South Asian voters should expect and support in the United States Senate.

A Call to Engage — and Lead

South Asian families have come to North Carolina seeking opportunity, stability, and a place to build for the next generation. Over the last eight years, Cooper’s leadership helped make that possible through strong public institutions, sustained economic growth, and visible respect for our community.

He supported the conditions that allowed our families to settle, grow, and succeed. He showed up when it mattered. And he governed with seriousness during moments of uncertainty.

Now, it is our turn to show up for him.

South Asian voters are no longer a marginal presence in North Carolina politics. We are homeowners, professionals, parents, and entrepreneurs, part of the coalition that will help decide this race. Our priorities are clear: education, opportunity, stability, and dignity. Cooper’s record shows that he understands those priorities and has governed accordingly.

Supporting Cooper is not about party loyalty or symbolism. It is about standing behind a leader who has earned our trust and ensuring that our community’s priorities continue to be represented at the highest levels of government.

Elections are moments of choice, but also of responsibility. This is one of them.

South Asian voters should engage, turn out, and support Cooper for the United States Senate, not as a gesture, but as a reflection of the leadership we believe North Carolina deserves.

Disclaimer: The opinions and views expressed in this article/column are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of South Asian Herald.