Roy Cooper wins North Carolina Senate race
The gist
Former North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper defeated ex-RNC Chairman Michael Whatley for the state's open Senate seat.
Cooper is the state's first Democratic senator since 2008.
How it unfolded
- 2025Republican Sen. Thom Tillis announced he would not seek reelection after falling out with President Trump, leaving the seat open.
- Mar 3, 2026Former Gov. Roy Cooper and ex-RNC Chairman Michael Whatley each won their party's Senate nominations in North Carolina.
- Jun 11, 2026Top election forecasters considered Cooper the favorite, saying the race was no longer a toss-up.