North Carolina 2026 Election: Senate Races, Candidates & Poll Times

North Carolina Senate race

Roy Cooper (D) vs. Michael Whatley (R)
Cook rating (Nov. 2): Likely D · Result: Roy Cooper (D) won (AP via PBS News; AP results)

Open seat (Sen. Thom Tillis is retiring). Former Gov. Roy Cooper faces former RNC Chairman Michael Whatley.

Sources: Cook Political Report Senate ratings, Nov. 2, 2026 · Wikipedia: 2026 United States Senate elections (nominee lists, sourced to state election offices)

North Carolina House races to watch

Districts the Cook Political Report does not rate as solid (Nov. 2); incumbent or open seat as Cook lists them.

• NC-01 (Davis): Toss Up
• NC-11 (Open (Edwards)): Lean D
• NC-03 (Murphy): Likely R
• NC-05 (Foxx): Likely R
• NC-07 (Rouzer): Likely R
• NC-09 (Hudson): Likely R
• NC-13 (Knott): Likely R
• NC-14 (Moore): Likely R

Sources: Cook Political Report House ratings, Nov. 2, 2026

What else to know

There is no governor's race in North Carolina in 2026; the state elected its governor in 2024. North Carolina enacted a new congressional map in October 2025. See our redistricting explainer.

Sources: NBC News: North Carolina passes new map designed to give GOP an extra seat