The matchup in one of the most competitive U.S. Senate races in the 2026 midterms is set: Democrat Roy Cooper and Republican Michael Whatley clinched their parties’ primary nominations Tuesday, according to AP race calls.
Cooper, the state’s popular former governor, is hoping to flip the seat held by outgoing Republican Sen. Thom Tillis. He’ll face Whatley, the former Republican National Committee chairman who received an endorsement from former President Donald Trump. A Democratic victory in North Carolina would be nearly essential for the party’s chances to regain control of the Senate.
As control of Congress hangs in the balance this November, North Carolina’s Republican-controlled Legislature pushed to further gerrymander the state’s congressional map to try to retain a House majority. Republicans currently hold 10 of the state’s 14 U.S. House districts, with only one typically competitive seat. Still, North Carolina is a national battleground where voters have recently split tickets — backing Trump for president while electing Democrat Josh Stein as governor in 2024.
Historically, the party in power often loses ground in midterms, and with Trump facing low approval ratings, several primary outcomes could affect control of Congress after November’s general election.
Key races NPR is monitoring:
North Carolina’s 4th District
The Democratic primary in the Research Triangle serves as an early gauge of the party’s direction after the 2024 elections. Incumbent Rep. Valerie Foushee faced Durham County commissioner Nida Allam in a rematch of a costly contest four years ago. Both are progressive and are favored in the state’s bluest district. Outside groups have funded much of the advertising; policy differences between the candidates include taking corporate PAC money, immigration, and positions on the war in Gaza.
North Carolina’s 11th District
In the western part of the state, Democrats had multiple primary choices for the first time in years. Farmer Jamie Ager, who outraised the field and was named a DCCC “Red to Blue” candidate, clinched the Democratic nomination, an outcome that stirred debate among voters and rivals. Republican incumbent Rep. Chuck Edwards, endorsed by Trump, faced a primary challenge tied partly to local response to Hurricane Helene in October 2024; Edwards won the GOP nomination, according to AP.
North Carolina’s 1st District
Republican redistricting made the 1st Congressional District more Republican-leaning in an effort to unseat Democratic Rep. Don Davis, making his path to a third term tougher. Five Republicans competed for the GOP nomination; Laurie Buckhout, the 2024 nominee who served in the Trump administration in 2025, won the nomination, according to AP. State law requires a top vote-getter to receive at least 30% of ballots, or the second-place finisher may request a runoff.
These contests, along with the Senate race between Cooper and Whatley, will shape a competitive November where control of Congress remains uncertain.
