The matchup in one of the most competitive U.S. Senate races in the 2026 midterms is set, as 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 will face Michael Whatley, the former Republican National Committee chairman whom President Trump endorsed for that position. A win for Cooper in this battleground would be crucial for Democrats aiming to regain control of the Senate.
As control of Congress hangs in the balance this November, North Carolina’s Republican-controlled Legislature has moved to further gerrymander the state’s congressional districts to try to retain the House majority. Republicans currently hold 10 of the state’s 14 U.S. House districts, with only one typically competitive in a normal year. Still, North Carolina is a national battleground where voters have recently split their tickets — supporting Trump for president while electing Democrat Josh Stein governor in 2024 to replace Cooper.
Historically, the party in power tends to lose ground in midterms, and with Trump facing low approval ratings in some polls, several primary outcomes could affect which party controls Congress after November’s general election. NPR is monitoring several key races in the state:
North Carolina’s 4th District
Incumbent Rep. Valerie Foushee is defending her seat in the Research Triangle against Durham County commissioner Nida Allam. Both are progressive and would likely be favored in the district this fall. The primary offers an early gauge of Democratic voters’ priorities after the 2024 presidential election. Outside groups have spent heavily in the race; major policy differences highlighted by reporters include taking corporate PAC money, immigration, and positions on the war in Gaza.
North Carolina’s 11th District
In the western 11th District, Democrat Jamie Ager — a farmer who outraised the field and was named a DCCC “Red to Blue” candidate — clinched the Democratic nomination, according to an AP call. The GOP incumbent, Rep. Chuck Edwards, who has Trump’s endorsement, won his primary. Local issues shaped the contest, including federal recovery after Hurricane Helene in October 2024, and a challenger criticized Edwards for a perceived lack of action after the storm.
North Carolina’s 1st District
Redistricting shifted the 1st District to include more Republican-leaning voters, complicating Democratic Rep. Don Davis’ path to a third term. Five Republicans competed for the GOP nomination; Laurie Buckhout, the 2024 nominee who served in the Trump administration in 2025, won the nomination, per an AP call. Under state law, the top vote-getter in a primary must receive at least 30% of the vote; otherwise, the second-place finisher can request a runoff, which would be held May 12.
NPR and partner outlets will continue to follow these contests and other races across North Carolina as results are finalized and the general election approaches.