Primary
Primary held March 3, 2026.
Democratic Primary
| Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roy Cooper ✓ | 761,345 | 92.0% | |
| Justin Dues | 22,295 | 2.7% | |
| Marcus Williams | 20,336 | 2.5% | |
| Orrick Quick | 7,275 | 0.9% | |
| Robert Colon | 6,777 | 0.8% |
Republican Primary
| Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Michael Whatley ✓ | 405,140 | 64.6% | |
| Don Brown | 97,891 | 15.6% | |
| Thomas Johnson | 35,534 | 5.7% | |
| Michele Morrow | 35,065 | 5.6% | |
| Elizabeth Temple | 23,892 | 3.8% | |
| Richard Dansie | 14,996 | 2.4% | |
| Margot Dupre | 14,886 | 2.4% |
Full calendar and every race: North Carolina primary guide
Race Overview
General Election Polling Trend
PollingSource average — trailing average of all polls from the last 90 days.
Candidates
General Election Polling Average
Average reflects all polls from the last 90 days; table shows the most recent 30 days or the newest 3 polls, whichever is more — subscribe for the full history. How accurate is each pollster? →
| Pollster | Date | Sample | MoE | Dem | Rep |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PPP | 2026-07-11 | 759 RV | ±3.60 | Cooper 48.00% | Whatley 44.00% |
| Public Policy Polling (D) partisan·D ±2.0 | 2026-07-11 | 759 LV | ±3.60 | Roy Cooper 48.00% | Michael Whatley 44.00% |
| New York Times/Siena University ±3.1 | 2026-06-27 | 601 LV | ±4.70 | Roy Cooper 50.00% | Michael Whatley 43.00% |
Questions About This Race
Who is winning the 2026 North Carolina Senate race?
Roy Cooper leads Michael Whatley 49% to 41% in the PollingSource polling average — a D+8.0 margin based on 7 polls from the last 90 days.
Is the 2026 North Carolina Senate race competitive?
It is not considered a top-tier battleground: the PollingSource polling average rates it Likely D, meaning Democrats are clearly favored but an upset is not impossible. Note: our polling average (Likely D) diverges from the expert consensus (Lean R) — that gap makes this a race to watch.
What does the latest poll of the 2026 North Carolina Senate race say?
The most recent public poll, from PPP (completed July 11, 2026), found Cooper (D) at 48% and Whatley (R) at 44%.
When is the 2026 North Carolina Senate race decided?
Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026.
How is the PollingSource average calculated?
The PollingSource average is the unweighted mean of every scientific public poll of the race from the last 90 days — we do not exclude pollsters. Each race page lists the individual polls behind the average with pollster, field dates, sample size, and margin of error. Full details: pollingsource.com/methodology.
Race Notes
Tillis retiring
Independent Expenditures Updated 8 hours ago
Top Spenders
- AMERICANS FOR PROSPERITY ACTION, INC. (AFP ACTION) DBA CVA ACTION AND DBA LIBRE ACTION $1,325,606
- SLF PAC $560,552
- FORWARD BLUE $28,519
- CATHOLICVOTE.ORG $17,939
- MODSQUAD ACTION $15,000
- FIELD TEAM 6, INC. $13,043
- DEFEND AMERICA POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE $9,950
- RED SENATE $9,400
- ACTIVATE AMERICA $8,914
- DMFI PAC $2,401
Full outside-spending research — every committee, every race →