A member of the Republican Party, he served one term in the United States House of Representatives for North Carolina's 4th congressional district from 1985 to 1987.

Cobey was born in Washington, D.C. and reared in the suburb of University Park in Prince George's County, Maryland.

[5] Cobey was one of the leading candidates for the Republican gubernatorial nomination to challenge Democratic Governor Mike Easley in the 2004 election.

In July 2003, Cobey received the endorsement of former North Carolina Senator Jesse Helms in the Republican primary contest.

In 2007-2008, Cobey was the North Carolina campaign chairman for defeated presidential candidate Mike Huckabee, the former governor of Arkansas.