Democrat Roy Cooper and Republican Michael Whatley clinched their parties’ nominations Tuesday, setting up one of the most contested U.S. Senate races in the 2026 midterms, AP called.
Cooper, the state’s popular former governor, seeks to flip the seat held by outgoing Republican Sen. Thom Tillis. Whatley, a former Republican National Committee chairman who earned former President Trump’s endorsement, will be the GOP nominee. A Cooper victory in this battleground state would be important to Democrats’ hopes of regaining control of the Senate.
The contest unfolds against a backdrop of high-stakes congressional fights. North Carolina’s Republican-controlled legislature has redrawn congressional maps to consolidate GOP advantages as control of the House remains in play; Republicans currently hold 10 of the state’s 14 U.S. House seats, with only one typically competitive in a normal year. North Carolina remains a national swing state where voters have recently split their tickets — supporting Trump for president while choosing Democrat Josh Stein as governor in 2024 to replace Cooper.
Historically, the president’s party often loses ground in midterms, and Trump’s mixed approval ratings mean primary outcomes could have downstream effects on which party controls Congress after November’s general election. NPR and partner outlets are watching several key House contests 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 candidates are viewed as progressive and would likely be favored in the fall. The primary served as an early test of Democratic voters’ priorities after 2024. Outside groups have spent heavily; reporters note debates over accepting corporate PAC money, immigration policy, and positions on the war in Gaza.
North Carolina’s 11th District
In the western 11th District, farmer and DCCC “Red to Blue” recruit Jamie Ager won the Democratic nomination, according to AP. GOP incumbent Rep. Chuck Edwards — who has Trump’s endorsement — also prevailed in his primary. Local concerns, including federal recovery after Hurricane Helene in October 2024, played a prominent role, and Edwards faced criticism from a challenger for an alleged lack of action after the storm.
North Carolina’s 1st District
Redistricting shifted the 1st District to include more Republican-leaning voters, making Democratic Rep. Don Davis’ bid for a third term more difficult. Five Republicans competed for their nomination; Laurie Buckhout, the 2024 nominee who served in the Trump administration in 2025, won the GOP primary, AP reported. State law requires a primary winner to receive at least 30% of the vote; if no candidate reaches that threshold, the second-place finisher may request a runoff, which would be scheduled for May 12.
NPR and partner outlets will continue to track results and developments in North Carolina as the general election approaches.