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2026 United States Senate election in North Carolina

Updated: Wikipedia source

2026 United States Senate election in North Carolina

The 2026 United States Senate election in North Carolina will be held on November 3, 2026, to elect a member of the United States Senate to represent the state of North Carolina. Republican former party chair Michael Whatley and Democratic former governor Roy Cooper are the nominees for their respective parties. Republican incumbent Thom Tillis is not seeking a third term. Considered vulnerable to a primary challenge due to his moderate positions, Tillis announced he would run for re-election, but withdrew after voting against the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Whatley, who emerged as the Republican frontrunner after being endorsed by President Donald Trump, won the nomination with 64 % of the vote over author Don Brown. Cooper won the Democratic nomination with 92% of the vote, facing minimal opposition. Democrats have not won a Senate election in North Carolina since 2008.

Infobox

Nominee
Michael Whatley
Party
Republican

Tables

· Republican primary › Fundraising
Candidate
Candidate
Campaign finance reports as of February 11, 2026
Candidate
Campaign finance reports as of February 11, 2026
Raised
Campaign finance reports as of February 11, 2026
Spent
Campaign finance reports as of February 11, 2026
Cash on hand
Don Brown (R)
Don Brown (R)
Campaign finance reports as of February 11, 2026
Don Brown (R)
Campaign finance reports as of February 11, 2026
$187,238
Campaign finance reports as of February 11, 2026
$164,131
Campaign finance reports as of February 11, 2026
$23,947
Richard Dansie (R)
Richard Dansie (R)
Campaign finance reports as of February 11, 2026
Richard Dansie (R)
Campaign finance reports as of February 11, 2026
$2,410
Campaign finance reports as of February 11, 2026
$1,780
Campaign finance reports as of February 11, 2026
$630
Thomas Johnson (R)
Thomas Johnson (R)
Campaign finance reports as of February 11, 2026
Thomas Johnson (R)
Campaign finance reports as of February 11, 2026
$5,400
Campaign finance reports as of February 11, 2026
$3,307
Campaign finance reports as of February 11, 2026
$464
Michele Morrow (R)
Michele Morrow (R)
Campaign finance reports as of February 11, 2026
Michele Morrow (R)
Campaign finance reports as of February 11, 2026
$10,720
Campaign finance reports as of February 11, 2026
$5,472
Campaign finance reports as of February 11, 2026
$5,248
Michael Whatley (R)
Michael Whatley (R)
Campaign finance reports as of February 11, 2026
Michael Whatley (R)
Campaign finance reports as of February 11, 2026
$6,272,873
Campaign finance reports as of February 11, 2026
$3,745,288
Campaign finance reports as of February 11, 2026
$2,527,585
Source: Federal Election Commission
Source: Federal Election Commission
Campaign finance reports as of February 11, 2026
Source: Federal Election Commission
Campaign finance reports as of February 11, 2026
Candidate
Raised
Spent
Cash on hand
Don Brown (R)
$187,238
$164,131
$23,947
Richard Dansie (R)
$2,410
$1,780
$630
Thomas Johnson (R)
$5,400
$3,307
$464
Michele Morrow (R)
$10,720
$5,472
$5,248
Michael Whatley (R)
$6,272,873
$3,745,288
$2,527,585
Source: Federal Election Commission
· Republican primary › Polling
Harper Polling (R)
Harper Polling (R)
Poll source
Harper Polling (R)
Date(s) administered
February 22–23, 2026
Sample size
600 (LV)
Margin of error
± 4 %
Don Brown
8%
Michele Morrow
2%
Michael Whatley
38%
Other
3%
Undecided
50%
High Point University
High Point University
Poll source
High Point University
Date(s) administered
February 6–20, 2026
Sample size
– (LV)
Margin of error
± 6 %
Don Brown
12%
Michele Morrow
2%
Michael Whatley
38%
Other
13%
Undecided
35%
Change Research (D)
Change Research (D)
Poll source
Change Research (D)
Date(s) administered
January 5–7, 2026
Sample size
530 (LV)
Margin of error
–
Don Brown
6%
Michele Morrow
4%
Michael Whatley
36%
Other
3%
Undecided
51%
Poll source
Date(s) administered
Sample size
Margin of error
Don Brown
Michele Morrow
Michael Whatley
Other
Undecided
Harper Polling (R)
February 22–23, 2026
600 (LV)
± 4 %
8%
2%
38%
3%
50%
High Point University
February 6–20, 2026
– (LV)
± 6 %
12%
2%
38%
13%
35%
Change Research (D)
January 5–7, 2026
530 (LV)
–
6%
4%
36%
3%
51%
Campaign Viability Research (R)
Campaign Viability Research (R)
Poll source
Campaign Viability Research (R)
Date(s) administered
November 13–15, 2024
Sample size
800 (LV)
Margin of error
–
Thom Tillis
42%
Mark Robinson
35%
Undecided
23%
Poll source
Date(s) administered
Sample size
Margin of error
Thom Tillis
Mark Robinson
Undecided
Campaign Viability Research (R)
November 13–15, 2024
800 (LV)
–
42%
35%
23%
Campaign Viability Research (R)
Campaign Viability Research (R)
Poll source
Campaign Viability Research (R)
Date(s) administered
November 13–15, 2024
Sample size
800 (LV)
Margin of error
–
Thom Tillis
31%
Someone Else
36%
Undecided
33%
Poll source
Date(s) administered
Sample size
Margin of error
Thom Tillis
Someone Else
Undecided
Campaign Viability Research (R)
November 13–15, 2024
800 (LV)
–
31%
36%
33%
Victory Insights (R)
Victory Insights (R)
Poll source
Victory Insights (R)
Date(s) administered
November 26–29, 2024
Sample size
800 (LV)
Margin of error
–
Thom Tillis
11%
Lara Trump
65%
Undecided
25%
Poll source
Date(s) administered
Sample size
Margin of error
Thom Tillis
Lara Trump
Undecided
Victory Insights (R)
November 26–29, 2024
800 (LV)
–
11%
65%
25%

References

  1. Dupre still appeared on the primary ballot.
  2. Key: A – all adults RV – registered voters LV – likely voters V – unclear
  3. Dupre, Johnson, and Temple with 1%; Dansie with <1%
  4. Dansie with 5%; Dupre and Temple with 3%; Johnson with 2%
  5. "Would not vote" with 3%
  6. Orrick Quick with 0%
  7. This forecast uses the terms "Likely" and "Very Likely" the same way the other forecasts use the terms "Lean" and "Likel
  8. This website uses two different forecasts, a "legacy" and "complete" forecast. The website treats their complete forecas
  9. Calculated by taking the difference of 100% and all other candidates combined.
  10. "Someone else/another party" with 2%
  11. "Someone else/another party" with 3%
  12. "Someone else" with 4%
  13. Shannon Bray (L) with 4%; "Other candidate" with 0%
  14. Shannon Bray (L) with 4%.
  15. "Would not vote" with 4%
  16. "Would not vote" with 1%
  17. With voters who lean towards a given candidate
  18. "Would not vote" with 2%
  19. Poll sponsored by The Carolina Journal
  20. Poll sponsored by Carolina Forward
Image
Source: —
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