Other speakers throughout the night hinted at a Cooper candidacy. Saturday's event was headlined by Illinois Gov. JB Prizker, who, taking the stage after Cooper's speech, called out, "Thank you Governor Cooper, thank you Senator Cooper!"

The former governor's remarks were Cooper's first time speaking publicly since news of his Senate campaign broke and come just days before he's expected to formally announce.

Former North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper appears to be running for Senate. The former governor addressed the elephant in the room at the NC Democrats Unity Dinner in Raleigh Saturday evening. Cooper did not plainly state that he would be running,

The former congressman from Cary faced an uphill Democratic primary against former Gov. Roy Cooper, whom Wiley is expected to endorse.