North Carolina Democrat Senate candidate Roy Cooper’s campaign answered a reporter’s questions about his health with a cease-and-desist letter from the law firm of far-left election denier Marc Elias. The aggressive response is now inviting even more scrutiny of the 69-year-old candidate, as reported [1] by Breitbart.
North State Journal, an outlet based in North Carolina and a member of the North Carolina Press Association, described the exchange in an article posted Tuesday, Oct. 13. Its headline read, “NSJ questioned Cooper’s campaign, got cease-and-desist in response.”
The outlet explained why it was asking about the candidate’s health. It cited Joe Biden’s withdrawal from the 2024 presidential race, Kentucky Sen. Mitch McConnell’s prolonged Senate absence, and the sudden death of South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham in July.
According to North State Journal, it emailed Cooper’s campaign with various questions eight times this year. All but two of those inquiries went unanswered, suggesting the campaign was hardly eager to engage with the outlet.
The response changed dramatically when the publication asked about Cooper’s health. Within several hours, the outlet received a two-page cease-and-desist letter from the Elias Law Group that threatened legal action.
The letter offered a categorical denial that Cooper has a condition that could keep him from serving a full term. It stated, “Governor Cooper intends to complete his entire term, and any suggestion that he is ‘experiencing a neurological issue,’ or that any health condition would prevent him from completing his term, is categorically false and defamatory.”
That forceful legal response followed public discussion about Cooper’s visibility and health. During a June appearance on Fox News Sunday, the hosts of the popular Ruthless Podcast discussed the North Carolina Senate contest and concerns surrounding the Democrat.
In a video clip, co-host Comforably Smug said, “Roy Cooper is essentially just hiding from the media; this is a runback of the Biden basement campaign. I’ve been talking to a lot of folks on the ground, there’s been health concerns … it’s going to be a liability for him in the fall if he can’t attend debates.”
.@RuthlessPodcast: “[Roy Cooper] is a runback of the whole ‘Biden in the basement,’ campaign…he’s not willing to hold press conferences…not talking to people…he’s avoiding any interviews.” https://t.co/QyibufJiE5
— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) June 14, 2026 [3]
No debates have been scheduled between Cooper and Republican Michael Whatley. The absence of scheduled debates leaves the candidates without a planned debate appearance against each other, even as Cooper’s health and media availability draw attention.
Republican communications consultant Matt Whitlock also weighed in on the North State Journal report. He posted his reaction on X after the outlet disclosed the legal letter it had received.
Whitlock wrote, “Seems notable that Roy Cooper is so sensitive to questions about his health that he has dark money election denier Mark Elias sending cease and desist letters as a response to basic media inquiries.”
Seems notable that Roy Cooper is so sensitive to questions about his health that he has dark money election denier Mark Elias sending cease and desist letters as a response to basic media inquiries….
— Matt Whitlock (@MattWhitlock) October 13, 2026 [4]
North State Journal did not limit its health questions to Cooper. The publication said it asked Whatley’s campaign the same questions, including after the Elias Law Group sent its letter to the outlet.
Whatley, who is 11 years younger than Cooper, answered that he would complete the full six year Senate term. He also told the outlet that he does not have any health issues.
The contrasting responses could hardly have been sharper. Whatley directly answered the questions, while Cooper’s campaign delivered a legal threat containing a denial that any health condition would stop him from finishing his term.
Cooper served two terms as governor, and his campaign insists he intends to complete the entire Senate term. Yet the choice to deploy Elias Law Group against a press inquiry has ensured that the questions will receive more attention, not less.
The episode also adds another layer to criticism that Cooper has been hiding from the media. With no debate currently scheduled and most of North State Journal’s inquiries unanswered, the campaign’s loudest response came through lawyers when the subject turned to health.