What Changed

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MIDTERMS 2026 - SENATE

North Carolina

LIKELY D R-held - Open: Tillis is retiring

CALLED: Democrat wins

DEMOCRAT

Roy Cooper

Newzino coverage of Cooper

Former two-term governor of North Carolina (2017-2025) and state attorney general before that (2001-2017). source

REPUBLICAN

Michael Whatley

Newzino coverage of Whatley

Former chair of the Republican National Committee (2024-2025) and of the North Carolina Republican Party (2019-2024). source

Where they differ

Only issues they disagree on. Each position is something the candidate said, voted for or published, linked to where.

Tariffs

COOPER

Wants to end what he calls 'chaotic tariffs,' saying they raise costs for farmers and consumers. source

WHATLEY

Supports Trump's tariffs: 'tariffs are going to be part of that... They are going to help North Carolina companies.' source

2025 tax and spending law (One Big Beautiful Bill Act)

COOPER

Opposes the law as a whole, though he backs its tax breaks on tips, overtime and Social Security. source

WHATLEY

Supports the law and credits its tax cuts with lowering costs. source

Medicaid and ACA tax credits

COOPER

Wants to reverse the 2025 Medicaid cuts and reinstate the expired ACA premium tax credits. source

WHATLEY

Backs the 2025 law that cut Medicaid spending; criticized Cooper for saying he would have voted against it. source

Abortion

COOPER

As governor, vetoed North Carolina's 2023 12-week abortion ban; vows to 'protect reproductive freedom.' source

WHATLEY

Called himself 'the most pro-life chair in the history of the Republican Party'; lists 'protecting life' as a priority. source

Immigration enforcement

COOPER

Vetoed the 2024 bill (HB 10) requiring sheriffs to honor ICE detainers; said 'I'm still opposed to that.' source

WHATLEY

Says he is '100% supportive' of Trump's border policy and criticizes Cooper's veto of the sheriffs-ICE bill. source

Iran war

COOPER

Has questioned Trump's strategy and calls for ending the war. source

WHATLEY

Backs the military campaign: 'Iran cannot have nuclear weapons.' source

The money

Each campaign's own filings with the Federal Election Commission, for the whole 2026 cycle. Reports are filed on different days, so check the date under each name.

RAISED

Cooper $49.6M

Whatley $13.7M

SPENT

Cooper $40.5M

Whatley $12.8M

CASH LEFT

Cooper $9.1M

Whatley $902K

Cooper: through 2026-10-14; Whatley: through 2026-10-14. Source: FEC, read 2026-10-23.

Outside groups

Money super PACs, parties and other groups reported spending on their own to help or hurt each candidate.

Roy Cooper

to help $532K

to hurt $2.4M

Michael Whatley

to help $5.0M

to hurt $8.9M

Independent expenditures reported to the FEC for the 2026 cycle, primary included. Groups that do not have to report (some issue ads) are not counted.

Latest polling

A SurveyUSA poll for WRAL/WSOC (Oct. 7-11, likely voters) had Cooper ahead 54% to 40%. source

North Carolina right now

How the state is doing going into the vote, from the people who count it.

JOBLESS RATE

3.4%

US: 4.2%

September 2026, seasonally adjusted, preliminary. Source: BLS

GAS, REGULAR

$3.46

US: $4.27

State average on 2026-10-27. Source: AAA

LAYOFF NOTICES (WARN), LAST 90 DAYS

1 notice covering 1 worker in Charlotte.

Only the cities Newzino covers, from the state's own WARN filings. Not a statewide total.

From Newzino in North Carolina

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Photos from Wikimedia Commons: Roy Cooper by NetwonsBucket, CC BY-SA 4.0; Michael Whatley by Gage Skidmore, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Positions checked 2026-10-23. Things they agree on are left out on purpose. Spot something wrong? Use the feedback button and we will fix it.