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NBC News projects that Democrat Roy Cooper has won the North Carolina Senate race, defeating Republican Michael Whatley. The seat became available following the retirement of GOP Senator Thom Tillis. Cooper, a former governor of North Carolina, has previously won six statewide elections, including two gubernatorial races in 2016 and 2020.
The race marks a significant shift toward Democrats, with the state showing a 23.11-point swing compared to the 2024 presidential election, according to NBC News. Whatley, the former RNC chairman, had the endorsement of President Donald Trump and emphasized his connection to the president during his campaign.
Cooper's victory is one of the first Senate seat flips for Democrats in the 2026 midterm elections, as reported by The Wall Street Journal. His campaign focused on reducing costs for health care, groceries, childcare, housing, and energy, according to The National News Desk.
Cooper's political career began in 1987 in the North Carolina House of Representatives. He later served in the North Carolina Senate and was elected as the state's Attorney General in 2000, a position he held until becoming governor in 2017.