Cooper Defeats Whatley to Flip North Carolina Senate Seat
The former governor’s win breaks a 16-year Democratic drought in the state and advances the party’s effort to capture the upper chamber.
By John Ferrari ·
Former North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper defeated Michael Whatley in the state’s open Senate race, according to projections from NBC News. The result secures a Democratic flip that contributes to the party’s goal of gaining a net four seats to control the Senate. It also marks the first time a Democrat has won a Senate seat in North Carolina since 2008.
Cooper will succeed retiring Republican Senator Thom Tillis. Tillis chose not to seek re-election after growing increasingly critical of President Donald Trump during the second term. The race was initially expected to be one of the most contested in the country. However, in the closing weeks, a leading Republican super PAC canceled its advertising spend to focus on protecting seats in more conservative areas. By that point, Cooper had built a solid lead in polls.
Cooper leveraged his high name recognition from serving two terms as governor. He avoided a contentious primary and focused his campaign on the cost of living, a top concern for voters. Whatley, who previously led the state party and served as RNC chairman during the 2024 election, had not run for elected office before. President Trump and Vice President JD Vance rallied with Whatley several times in the final stretch to provide a boost.
Despite those appearances, Trump signaled in the closing weeks that Cooper was likely to win. At an October rally in the state, Trump said of Cooper, “He’s going to become your senator. And it’s crazy.” Whatley struggled to distance himself from an increasingly unpopular president as voters expressed dissatisfaction with the economy and the Iran war.
This election represents the first midterm Senate race in North Carolina with Trump in power. Historically, midterm elections present tougher conditions for the party controlling the White House. The state did not hold a Senate contest in 2018, the previous midterm under Trump. The outcome adds to the tally as Democrats work to shift the balance of power in Washington.
