Bold opening: The North Carolina primary kicks off a high-stakes fight for control of the U.S. Senate, with the fate of a major battleground state hanging in the balance. But here’s where it gets controversial: the race could hinge as much on outside money and national party dynamics as on local issues.
North Carolina’s primary marks the formal start of one of the country’s most scrutinized Senate contests, likely pitting former Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper against former Republican National Committee Chair Michael Whatley. Each is seen as the strongest challenger for their party’s nomination, with the primary winner expected to be decided on Tuesday. In addition to the Senate race, voters will decide numerous other contests, including U.S. House seats, state legislative races, and judicial contests.
The Tar Heel State has long been a political prize, a traditional battleground where Democrats have managed to hold the governor’s office even as voters sometimes back Republican presidential nominees. This year, North Carolina joins Texas and Arkansas as one of three states launching the midterm election season. The primaries unfold amid a broader backdrop of international tensions, with the U.S. and Israel conducting strikes on Iran, stirring oil and gas price fluctuations and fueling national debate about military intervention and presidential power.
What’s at stake
The upcoming NC election could prove pivotal in determining which party controls the Senate, where Republicans currently hold the majority. The seat is open after Sen. Thom Tillis announced he would retire rather than seek another term. Political analysts warn the race could attract an unprecedented level of outside money, potentially making it one of the most expensive Senate campaigns in U.S. history, with totals reaching as high as $1 billion.
Many Democrats view Cooper, a veteran state leader who served two terms as governor, as the party’s best path to reclaim the chamber. Democrats aim to gain four seats to retake the Senate, with North Carolina, Maine, Alaska, and Ohio identified as the likeliest routes.
Cooper faces five opponents in the Democratic primary, while Republican contenders on the Senate ballot include former Navy officer Don Brown and Michele Morrow, who previously ran for state schools chief in 2024.
Cooper entered the race weeks after Tillis announced his retirement last summer, and Whatley joined with backing from former President Trump when Lara Trump chose not to run. The two have spent months campaigning against each other with relatively little emphasis on intra-party competition.
Whatley has pledged to advance Trump’s conservative agenda, arguing that it has lowered taxes and government spending and strengthened the military. “It’s crucial to have a conservative champion and to have President Trump as an ally in the Senate,” he said while voting early in Gastonia. “We’ll fight for every family and every community in North Carolina.”
Voters weigh in
Some primary voters feel Congress should remain in Democratic hands to provide a counterweight to Trump-era policies, while others back Whatley’s alignment with the president’s base. Raleigh unaffiliated voter Shailendra Prakash, who voted in the Democratic primary for Cooper, said he hopes for a flip in control. Apex Republican Lisa Weaver, a former RNC chair, said Whatley aligns with the issues she cares about and would support the president’s framework, even if she doesn’t embrace every Trump policy.
Historical context and current dynamics
Democrats have not won a Senate seat in North Carolina since 2008. Cooper, age 68, has built a long record in state politics, including stints as attorney general and governor, and has consistently won elections since first entering politics in the 1980s. Whatley, 57, has experience in George W. Bush’s administration, worked with North Carolina senator Elizabeth Dole, and has a background in energy lobbying.
Campaign rhetoric has centered on accountability and crime, as Cooper’s team highlights Whatley’s Trump-aligned positions, including tariff and spending stances, as well as past responses to Hurricane Helene relief efforts. Cooper counters by emphasizing a tough-on-crime record from his administration and a focus on prosecuting violent criminals.
Tuesday’s voting also includes primary elections in nearly all of North Carolina’s U.S. House districts. A notable Republican contest is in the 1st District in the northeast, a five-way race in which current Democratic Rep. Don Davis faces entrenched party opposition in a district reshaped by statewide redistricting efforts to favor Republicans ahead of the 2026 elections. Davis won his seat in 2024 by a narrow margin.
Associated Press reporter Allen G. Breed contributed to this report.
