North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper is considering a run for U.S. Senate, and a social media post announcing that the Democrat would speak about “the future of North Carolina” at a Winston-Salem event generated buzz.
But there’s no sign it was real.
“Former North Carolina governor and potential Senate candidate teases ‘Coffee with Roy Cooper’ event on July 18,” the X account “Politics & Poll Tracker” posted July 8. The account has more than 16,000 followers.
The post, which has since been deleted, included an image that resembled an invitation. It said Cooper would speak at 11 p.m. on July 18 at Winston-Salem’s Lot 63 Coffee and Tap Room. The event would also include live music by local band Elonzo Wesley, the post said.
People in North Carolina political circles have been keeping tabs on Cooper, looking for signs that he might officially announce his 2026 candidacy for the seat being vacated by Republican U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis.
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The North State Journal, a North Carolina-based newspaper, on July 8 referenced the event in an article about the U.S. Senate race, reporting that it fueled speculation that Cooper would run. The article also included a link to the Politics & Poll social media post.
But spokespeople for Cooper, the coffee shop and the band all said this event and its announcement were fabricated.
“That’s fake,” said Morgan Jackson, Cooper’s spokesman and longtime political consultant. “I don’t know where that came from.” The fact that the image didn’t mention details about a maximum capacity for the event — or a way to RSVP — is a sign it wasn’t produced by a professional campaign, Jackson said.
Trent Hancock, a manager for the venue, Lot 63, said reports of the event are false and caught the shop’s owners by surprise. Managers saw the image and wondered: “Wait, did someone just randomly book it without letting us know?” Hancock said.
“Any shop would have enjoyed having a lot of people come by,” he said. But no such luck. “There was no plan to begin with,” Hancock said.
Elonzo Wesley lead singer Jeremy Davis said the band is scheduled to play in Mississippi on July 18.
“I don’t know why or how anyone put my name on it,” Davis said. “I’ve never even heard of this place.”
The Politics & Poll Tracker social media account said it got the image from another X user, an account called “Chug 2024.” Chug 2024 didn’t respond to PolitiFact’s questions about the image.
Our ruling
An image circulating on social media said Cooper is scheduled to speak in Winston-Salem July 18 about the “future of North Carolina,” fueling speculation about whether the former North Carolina governor would announce plans to run for U.S. Senate.
Spokespeople for Cooper, the coffee shop, and the band say the image is inaccurate and that there is no such event planned. Social media accounts that shared the image also produced no proof that the event was ever scheduled. We rate the claim False.
PolitiFact reporter Caryn Baird contributed
