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North Carolina 2026 Election: Senate Races, Candidates & Poll Times
Facts checked Oct. 28, 2026 · Jamoke News does not project winners or call races; results link to the AP.
What’s on the ballot in North Carolina on Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026: the U.S. Senate race and the most competitive U.S. House districts, with candidates, Cook Political Report ratings, poll-closing time and the latest coverage.
Polls close: 7:30 p.m. ET. All states. Results: AP North Carolina results.
North Carolina Senate race
Roy Cooper (D) vs. Michael Whatley (R)
Cook rating (Oct. 20): Likely D · Result: not yet called (AP)
Open seat (Sen. Thom Tillis is retiring). Former Gov. Roy Cooper faces former RNC Chairman Michael Whatley.
Sources: Cook Political Report Senate ratings, Oct. 20, 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 (Oct. 23); 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-13 (Knott): Likely R
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
Latest North Carolina election headlines
- North Carolina state Senate candidate arrested after police standoff 1 outlet Oct 27, 2026, 12:33 PM ET
- Democrats, Tillis say Congress may investigate banks and ports for Russian diesel imports 1 outlet Oct 26, 2026, 12:35 PM ET
- Tillis accuses California of being 'guilty' of ballot harvesting: 'They have a system there that is ripe for abuse' 1 outlet Oct 25, 2026, 6:18 PM ET
- Tillis says it's 'appropriate to take a look at' Alaska ballot with two Dan Sullivans running 3 outlets Oct 24, 2026, 2:19 PM ET
- Roy Cooper Has Never Lost an Election. Can He Flip North Carolina’s Senate Seat? 1 outlet Oct 23, 2026, 9:00 AM ET
- Tillis says Stephen Miller, Hegseth and RFK Jr. should be fired 1 outlet Oct 22, 2026, 4:59 PM ET
- Cooper holds 13-point lead over Whatley in NC Senate race: Poll 1 outlet Oct 21, 2026, 1:04 PM ET
- New Rules in North Carolina Threaten Thousands of Mail Ballots 3 outlets Oct 20, 2026, 5:39 PM ET
- Tillis: 'Putin is playing President Trump like a fiddle' 1 outlet Oct 20, 2026, 9:20 AM ET
2026 election guides
States: Texas · Maine · Alaska · Ohio · Michigan · Iowa · North Carolina · Georgia
Explainers: When Will We Know the 2026 Midterm Election Results? · Ranked-Choice Voting in Alaska and Maine, Explained · Georgia Runoff Rules 2026 · Senate Balance of Power 2026 · 2025–26 Mid-Decade Redistricting Explained
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