North Carolina Senate Election 2026
Thom Tillis (R) is retiring. Rating: Likely D.
Status: upcoming. Election day is November 3, 2026.
Candidates
| Candidate | Party | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Roy Cooper | Democratic | Former governor |
| Michael Whatley | Republican | Former RNC chair |
Polls
| Date | Pollster | Roy Cooper | Michael Whatley |
|---|---|---|---|
| October 13, 2026 | Carolina Forward/Change Research (D) | 50% | 40% |
| October 13, 2026 | WRAL-TV/SurveyUSA | 54% | 40% |
| October 12, 2026 | Trafalgar (R) | 49% | 41% |
| October 3, 2026 | East Carolina Univ. | 50% | 43% |
| September 29, 2026 | Big Data Poll (R) | 49% | 38% |
| September 22, 2026 | Quantus (R) | 48% | 43% |
| September 20, 2026 | Fabrizio Ward (R)/Impact (D) | 53% | 42% |
| September 20, 2026 | Opinion Diagnostics (R) | 51% | 41% |
| September 18, 2026 | YouGov | 52% | 41% |
| September 17, 2026 | InsiderAdvantage (R) | 48% | 43% |
| September 16, 2026 | High Point Univ. | 50% | 42% |
| September 15, 2026 | Harper (R) | 49% | 34% |
| September 15, 2026 | Catawba/YouGov | 47% | 35% |
| September 10, 2026 | Trafalgar (R) | 48% | 42% |
| September 3, 2026 | East Carolina Univ. | 46% | 39% |
| August 31, 2026 | YouGov | 49% | 38% |
| August 18, 2026 | High Point Univ. | 50% | 45% |
Average of the undefined most recent polls: Roy Cooper 49.6%, Michael Whatley 41.1%. Polls are snapshots, not predictions.
Where the candidates stand
Roy Cooper (D)
- Vetoed North Carolina's 12-week abortion ban. (2023) source
- Ordered a 50% emissions cut by 2030 and net-zero by 2050. (2026) source
- Vetoed a private-school voucher expansion. (2024) source
- Supports background checks and red-flag laws. (2026) source
- Expanded Medicaid; would restore ACA tax credits. (2023) source
- Questions the reasons for the Iran war and wants Congress to reclaim war powers. (2026) source
- Supports stronger antitrust rules and banning grocery-pricing algorithms. (2026) source
- Opposes lowering income tax rates for corporations and high earners. (2026) source
- Vetoed limits on gender-transition care for minors. (2023) source
- Vetoed a ban on transgender athletes in girls' sports. (2023) source
Michael Whatley (R)
- Called the veto of the 12-week ban radical and wants pro-life majorities. (2026) source
- Supports federal tax credits so funding follows students to private schools. (2026) source
- NRA-endorsed and pledges to defend gun rights. (2026) source
- Praised ICE operations in Charlotte as strong, decisive action. (2025-12) source
- Absolutely supports the Iran war. (2026) source
- Supports the 2025 law extending the 2017 tax cuts. (2026) source
- Defended the Medicaid cuts in the 2025 tax and spending law. (2026) source
Sources
- 2026 United States Senate elections (Wikipedia)
- Latest Senate polls (RealClearPolling)
- 2026 election polls (Political.org)
- Cook Political Report Senate ratings
- The Green Papers: 2026 candidates by state
- Cook Political Report Senate overview: South Carolina, Mississippi, Minnesota (Oct. 20, 2026)
- Midterm Elections in Ohio, October 2026 (Marist Poll)
- Midterm Elections in Michigan, October 2026 (Marist Poll)
Ratings, candidates and polls last updated October 24, 2026. Ratings are expert forecasts, not results.