North Carolina 2026 live primary election results: Cooper, Whatley projected to win Senate primaries
ABC News projects that former Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Whatley will win the Republican primary in North Carolina and that Roy Cooper, the former two-term governor, will win the Democratic primary.
State significance
The North Carolina Senate race is expected to become one of the most expensive races on the map this year as Republicans aim to protect their majority in the Senate and Democrats hope to flip several seats.
On the Democratic side of the Senate race, former North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper is largely expected to clinch the nomination, with Democrats viewing the seat as one of their best pick-up opportunities in the Senate this year.
Cooper has won every election he has ever run in the state since 1986 and was elected statewide as governor in both 2016 and 2020 -- years that Donald Trump won North Carolina. Cooper did not run for reelection in 2024 due to term limits.
Former Republican National Committee Chair Michael Whatley leads the Republican primary field as the Trump-endorsed candidate, though he faces challenges from Navy JAG veteran and attorney Don Brown and far-right former North Carolina state superintendent candidate Michele Morrow.
North Carolina's 2026 primary is the first election under the state's new congressional map, which was redrawn in October as part of the nationwide Republican-led redistricting push. The new map takes aim at flipping North Carolina's previously competitive 1st Congressional District, which is currently represented by Democratic Rep. Don Davis.
