The Democratic and Republican nominations for one of the most closely watched U.S. Senate races of the 2026 midterms are set: former North Carolina governor Roy Cooper and former Republican National Committee chairman Michael Whatley secured their parties’ primary wins Tuesday, AP race calls show.
Cooper, a well-known Democratic figure in the state, is aiming to flip the seat being vacated by outgoing Republican Sen. Thom Tillis. Whatley, who won the GOP nod after receiving an endorsement from former President Donald Trump, will be his Republican opponent. A Democratic pickup in North Carolina would be a major boost to the party’s effort to reclaim control of the Senate.
With control of Congress at stake this November, state politics are also in the spotlight. North Carolina’s Republican-led legislature pushed to redraw congressional boundaries this year in a move critics called further gerrymandering intended to protect the GOP’s House advantage. Republicans now hold 10 of the state’s 14 U.S. House seats, and only one district is generally viewed as competitive. Yet the state remains a national battleground: recent elections have produced ticket-splitting, with voters supporting Donald Trump for president while electing Democrat Josh Stein as governor in 2024.
National trends add uncertainty. Historically, the party holding the White House or power often loses ground in midterms, and divisions within the GOP and low approval ratings for Trump in some polls could shape primary outcomes and, in turn, influence which party controls Congress after November.
Key House contests to watch in North Carolina:
North Carolina’s 4th District
In the Research Triangle, the Democratic primary provided an early test of the party’s direction after 2024. Incumbent Rep. Valerie Foushee and Durham County commissioner Nida Allam rematched in a costly race that drew substantial outside spending. Both candidates position themselves on the progressive side of the party and remain favored in what is the state’s bluest district. Major differences between them emerged on issues such as accepting corporate PAC money, immigration policy, and responses to the war in Gaza.
North Carolina’s 11th District
In the western part of the state, Democrats had an unusual contested primary after years of limited competition. Farmer Jamie Ager — who outpaced rivals in fundraising and earned a DCCC “Red to Blue” designation — won the Democratic nomination, a result that stirred debate among voters and contenders. On the Republican side, incumbent Rep. Chuck Edwards, backed by Trump, held off a primary challenge that was partly driven by local reactions to Hurricane Helene in October 2024.
North Carolina’s 1st District
A GOP-led redistricting effort made the 1st Congressional District more favorable to Republicans in a bid to unseat Democratic Rep. Don Davis, complicating his path to a third term. Five Republicans competed for the GOP nomination; Laurie Buckhout, who was the party’s 2024 nominee and served in the Trump administration in 2025, claimed the top spot. State election law requires a leading vote-getter to secure at least 30% of the vote to avoid a potential runoff requested by the runner-up.
These House contests, alongside the Cooper-Whatley Senate matchup, will help determine whether Democrats can make gains in November or whether Republicans hold their narrow advantages in Congress. Control of the Senate and the House remains uncertain as campaigns shift toward the general election.