North Carolina U.S. Senate 2026
A sourced guide to the major-party nominees, ballot context and where official voting and results information will appear. This is not an endorsement or a forecast.
The major-party nominees
Election Day: November 3, 2026 · Open seat · Other candidates may be on the ballot
Roy Cooper
Listed as a Democratic general-election nominee by the cited race or voter guide.
Michael Whatley
Listed as a Republican general-election nominee by the cited race or voter guide.
Other listed candidates include Michael Dublin (Green) and Shannon Bray (Libertarian).
Race background
Republican Sen. Thom Tillis is not seeking another term. Former Gov. Roy Cooper and Michael Whatley are the Democratic and Republican nominees, respectively. The election also includes additional minor-party candidates.
What to watch on November 3
North Carolina polling locations normally close at 7:30 p.m. Eastern. Results can arrive county by county, and election-night numbers remain unofficial.
Reading a race call: Preliminary totals are unofficial. Media projections must name the projecting outlet; certification comes from authorized election officials.
Sources and election resources
Nominee and contextual information checked October 26, 2026. Follow these primary and independent resources to confirm changes after this review date.
Related coverage
ElectionTracker analysis of this race (check the article date) · Election-week update log · Official voting tools.
Any ballot or nomination change after October 26 should be checked against the state election authority before being reflected on this page.