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Map the Midterms2026 midterms information · not official

U.S. Senate

North Carolina U.S. Senate — 2026 (Class 2)

North Carolina’s open Class 2 Senate seat is on the November 3, 2026 ballot. Former Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper faces Republican Michael Whatley, a former Republican National Committee chair.

Cook Political Report: Lean D (August 20, 2026)

What this office is

Each state elects two U.S. senators. A senator’s term is six years. Class 2 seats are on the regular 2026 cycle. The Senate writes and votes on federal legislation, confirms many presidential nominees, and tries impeachments. The winner of a November general election takes office only after the state’s official canvass and the new Congress is seated.

Why it matters in 2026

Cook’s August 20, 2026 print chart placed the open North Carolina seat in Lean Democratic. CBS News and Reuters have described it as Democrats’ clearest 2026 pickup opportunity among Republican-held seats. North Carolina last elected a Democratic U.S. senator in 2008. Official results will come from the State Board of Elections.

Republican Sen. Thom Tillis is not seeking re-election. The Class 2 seat is open.

Libertarian and Green candidates have appeared in some published polls. Confirm every qualified name on the official North Carolina ballot.

Candidates

Names below are declared or nominated figures reported as of mid-September 2026. Party labels identify tickets only. This is not an endorsement and not a certified list.

Official portrait of former Gov. Roy Cooper

Roy Cooper

Democratic

Cooper served two terms as North Carolina governor (2017–2025) after a long tenure as state attorney general. He is the Democratic nominee for the open Tillis seat. Public biographies emphasize his statewide executive record and prior work as a legislator.

Read more:WikipediaBallotpedia

Photo: RadioFan, CC BY-SA 4.0. CC BY-SA 4.0. Source

Michael Whatley

Republican

Whatley is a North Carolina Republican operative who chaired the Republican National Committee and previously led the state party. He entered the Senate race with President Trump’s encouragement after Tillis retired. He is the Republican nominee for the open seat.

Read more:WikipediaBallotpedia

Published polls

Published surveys tagged to NC SenateIndividual published surveys. Not a Map the Midterms average and not a prediction.
PollsterDatesSampleDemRepSpread
Elon University Poll
Elon University, Cooper maintains double-digit lead · accessed September 17, 2026
Aug 21–31, 2026800 adults (LV subset) · ±5.6 LV49Cooper38WhatleyCooper +11

Questions readers ask

When is Election Day?
The 2026 U.S. midterm general election is Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Early voting and mail-ballot calendars differ by state.
Is this the official candidate list for this Senate race?
No. Map the Midterms is not an election office. Confirm qualified names with the North Carolina State Board of Elections and the official sample ballot for your address.
Are the poll numbers a forecast?
No. Tables show individual published surveys with the pollster, dates, sample, and a link. They are not a prediction and not an average unless a cited aggregator says so.

Other North Carolina guides