SENATE RACE
North Carolina
CANDIDATES
Roy Cooper
Democrat · Challenger
48.3%
538
vs.
Michael Whatley
Republican · Challenger
44.6%
538
Former Governor Roy Cooper enters as the strongest Democratic recruit of the cycle, bringing statewide name recognition and moderate appeal to a state Trump won narrowly. RNC Chair Michael Whatley faces the challenge of running as a Trump loyalist in a rapidly suburbanizing state where the Iran war and gas prices are top-of-mind. Cooper's pragmatic record on Medicaid and education plays well in the Research Triangle suburbs that have trended blue.
OUTSIDE SPENDING
Pro-D $8.5M
Pro-R $7.2M
Most expensive Senate race so far
RECENT POLLS
| Pollster | Date | D% | R% | Spread |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SurveyUSA | 2026-03-20 | 49 | 44 | D+5 |
| Emerson | 2026-03-10 | 48 | 45 | D+3 |
| PPP | 2026-02-25 | 47 | 46 | D+1 |
| Trafalgar | 2026-02-15 | 46 | 47 | R+1 |
KEY ISSUES
| Issue / Topic | Democrat | Republican |
|---|---|---|
| Economy | Medicaid expansion, infrastructure spending | Tax cuts, reduced regulation |
| Education | Public school funding, teacher pay | School choice, voucher programs |
| Iran War | Opposes open-ended commitment | Supports administration approach |
CAMPAIGN FINANCE · FEC
Roy Cooper
- Raised
- $12.5M
- Spent
- $6.2M
- Cash on Hand
- $6.8M
- Small Donors
- 38%
- PAC / Super PAC
- $3.2M
CAMPAIGN FINANCE · FEC
Michael Whatley
- Raised
- $7.8M
- Spent
- $4.9M
- Cash on Hand
- $3.4M
- Small Donors
- 22%
- PAC / Super PAC
- $4.5M
DEMOGRAPHICS · CENSUS
- Population
- 10.7M
- Median Household Income
- $61,972
- White Non-Hispanic
- 61.4%
- Black
- 21.5%
- Hispanic / Latino
- 10.7%
- College Educated (25+)
- 33.7%
- Union Membership
- 2.8%
ELECTION INFO
- Election Date
- November 3, 2026
- Primary Date
- Completed March 3, 2026
- Term Length
- 6 years (Class II)
- Voter Registration Deadline
- October 9, 2026
- Early Voting
- Yes, October 15 - October 31, 2026