Senate Democrats received a massive shot in the arm on Monday as former North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper (D) announced he is a go for the state’s high-stakes Senate race, delivering the party its biggest recruiting victory of the cycle and the hope that it could lead to more in the coming months.

Former Gov. Roy Cooper is officially running for U.S. Senate. "I've had enough. I've thought on it and prayed about it, and I've decided: I want to serve as your next United States senator because even now I still believe our best days are ahead of us," Cooper said in a video released by the campaign.

Despite dismal polling, Democrats have some encouraging signs. But they need to get in shape, fast.

Typical for a purple state, North Carolina’s two major political parties are neck-and-neck for the No. 2 spot in voter registration — behind unaffiliated voters — with Republicans projected to surpass Democrats for the first time in the state’s history.

Cooper's veto of Senate Bill 382 was overridden without any debate during Monday's session. Democrats who supported Cooper's veto previously gave lengthy speeches denouncing the proposal last month.