The Midterm Editor's note: This page was last updated November 6, 2026. The result recorded below is a race call by a news organization, not a certified total; the state election office certifies the official count.
Result
Roy Cooper (D) defeated Michael Whatley (R). The Associated Press called the race on the night of November 3, 2026. It is a Republican-held seat that Democrats won, one of the four flips that decided the Senate majority.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Winner | Roy Cooper (D) |
| Called by | Associated Press, night of November 3, 2026 |
| Outcome | Democratic pickup |
A race call is a projection, not a certified total. County canvasses and state certification follow, as the certification calendar explains. Full chamber results are on the Senate results page.
Key facts
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Seat | U.S. Senate, North Carolina |
| Candidates | Roy Cooper (D) and Michael Whatley (R) |
| Election Day | Tuesday, November 3, 2026 |
| Race rating | See Cook, Sabato, and DDHQ for current ratings and dates |
| Registration deadline | Has passed; see the North Carolina voting guide |
| Voting guide | How to vote in North Carolina |
Who is running?
This race is part of the wider fight for the Senate majority; our North Carolina Senate hub collects related coverage.
Roy Cooper (Democratic). Cooper served as North Carolina's governor from 2017 to 2025 and was the state's attorney general before that, according to his official biography. He is the Democratic nominee.
Michael Whatley (Republican). Whatley is the former chair of the Republican National Committee, according to the party and public records. He is the Republican nominee.
Other candidates. North Carolina ballots can include Libertarian and independent candidates. The State Board of Elections publishes the official lineup.
Polls
Public polling in the North Carolina Senate race 2026 has been steady, and the averages have narrowed and widened as the campaign has run. We do not publish a poll number we have not sourced, and no single survey settles a statewide race: samples of registered or likely voters carry a margin of error of several points, and the sponsor and field dates matter as much as the topline.
Where to find current numbers
- 270toWin's 2026 Senate tracker — state-by-state polling averages and race ratings.
- RealClearPolitics — a rolling average of published North Carolina surveys.
- Silver Bulletin — polling averages and a forecast model.
Each tracker dates its average, and each underlying poll lists a margin of error. Check both before you treat a lead as real; a lead of one or two points inside the margin is not a lead.
Race rating and forecast
Cook Political Report, Sabato's Crystal Ball, and Decision Desk HQ each rate Senate races on a scale that runs from safe for one party to toss-up. They do not always agree, and a rating is a judgment about the state of the race rather than a prediction. We do not restate a rating without its date, so check the current rating at each rater: Cook Political Report, Sabato's Crystal Ball, and Decision Desk HQ.
A toss-up rating means either party could win, usually within the range where polling error or a late shift decides it. Ratings change with new polling and spending, so check the date on any rating you read.
Key issues
The economy and growth
Pew Research Center's September 28 to October 4, 2026 survey found that 84% of voters call the economy very important, the top answer for both parties. Population growth in the Research Triangle and Charlotte has changed the state's electorate, and housing costs are part of the closing debate in both campaigns.
Health care
Health care is very important to 68% of voters in the Pew survey. Rural hospitals and Medicaid enrollment are central to the health care debate here, and federal Medicaid and Medicare decisions reach directly into the state.
Abortion
Abortion is very important to 46% of voters overall, 43% of Republicans, and 49% of Democrats. North Carolina law restricts abortion, and federal legislation would sit alongside state law, so the Senate race covers both.
Immigration
Immigration is very important to 59% of all voters and 72% of Republicans in the Pew survey. The issue is fought mostly in national messaging, but Senate control determines which immigration bills reach a vote, and both candidates will be asked how they would vote.
How to vote in North Carolina
The regular registration deadline has passed, so confirm your status before Election Day. Early voting typically runs from mid-October to the end of October. Any registered voter may request an absentee ballot without an excuse. On Election Day, polls are open 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Check your registration and find your polling place at the North Carolina State Board of Elections. Our full North Carolina voting guide covers ID rules and mail ballot tracking.
What to watch in the North Carolina Senate race 2026
- Turnout in the Triangle and Charlotte. Wake, Mecklenburg, and surrounding counties hold much of the state's new population, and both parties will watch whether those voters turn out at recent rates.
- Rural counties. The state's eastern and western counties have lost population relative to the metros, and their turnout still decides close races.
- The congressional map. Redistricting changed North Carolina's House lines for 2026. It shapes turnout even though it does not change the Senate race.
- Spending. National groups on both sides are likely to spend in the final week. Federal campaign finance filings are the best place to follow who is spending and where.
Results
Results were updated after polls closed on November 3, 2026. We do not report live results from the field; our results page links to official state counts and the AP race call.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is running for Senate in North Carolina in 2026?
Democrat Roy Cooper, governor from 2017 to 2025, faces Republican Michael Whatley, the former Republican National Committee chair. The State Board of Elections publishes the full ballot lineup.
What offices has Roy Cooper held?
Cooper was North Carolina's attorney general before serving as governor from 2017 to 2025, according to his official biography.
What do the polls show in the North Carolina Senate race?
Trackers publish a current average, but we do not repeat a number without a source and date. See the 270toWin, RealClearPolitics, and Silver Bulletin links above.
When is Election Day in North Carolina?
Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Early voting ends earlier, so check the North Carolina voting guide.
How do I vote by mail in North Carolina?
Any registered voter may request an absentee ballot without an excuse. The North Carolina voting guide explains the steps and the return rules.
Sources
- 270toWin: 2026 Senate elections — race tracker. Accessed October 27, 2026.
- Cook Political Report — race ratings. Accessed October 27, 2026.
- Sabato's Crystal Ball — race ratings. Accessed October 27, 2026.
- North Carolina State Board of Elections — registration and absentee voting. Accessed October 27, 2026.
- Pew Research Center — September 28 to October 4, 2026 issue survey. Accessed October 27, 2026.
- AP News — North Carolina coverage and race calls. Accessed October 27, 2026.