Poll: Cooper leads Whatley by 8 points

By Alan Wooten | The Center Square

Democrat Roy Cooper (left), Republican Michael Whatley.  Courtesy photos | Cooper (Gov. Roy Cooper | Facebook), Whatley (Chairman Whatley | Facebook)

(The Center Square) – Roy Cooper leads Michael Whatley 47.3%-39.1% in the newest poll of North Carolina voters selecting a U.S. senator in 2026.

Sampled Monday and Tuesday with results released on Thursday 446 days from Election Day, the 600 likely voters’ responses were given a 95% confidence level and a margin of error of +/- 3.98%. The poll was produced by Carolina Journal in conjunction with Harper Polling.

In a most telling statistic on the question “never heard of,” the Democratic former governor got 4% and the chairman of the Republican National Committee hit 51.3%. Similarly, Cooper hit 47.3% on favorable and 39.8% on unfavorable; Whatley was 14.9% favorable and 11.3% unfavorable.

"North Carolina's race for Senate has only just begun, but the Whatley campaign appears to have a lot of legwork in front of them if they want to be competitive," said Carolina Journal publisher and John Locke Foundation CEO Donald Bryson. "Cooper certainly has an advantage in this race, having held statewide office for 24 consecutive years. The name ID figures should not give either party heartburn or confidence."

Cooper is unbeaten in statewide elections six times. Whatley has a rousing endorsement from second-term President Donald Trump, winner of presidential elections in the state three consecutive cycles.

North Carolina’s historical patterns yield as much intrigue as the race’s expense forecast of $500 million to $750 million. The state has picked just three Republicans as governor since 1900. Yet federally, it has backed only two Democrats for president in 60 years and has sent only four Democrats to the U.S. Senate in 50 years. None of the presidents won the state in their reelection bids, and none of the senators won a second term.

Senate races in the state have gone to Republicans five consecutive times the last 15 years, and seven of eight this century.

Cooper will be the sixth former governor of the state to try for the U.S. Senate. One from each major party has lost, and three Democrats have been successful.

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Alan Wooten has been a publisher, general manager and editor. His work has won national or state awards in every decade since the 1980s. He’s a proud graduate of Elon University and Farmville Central High in North Carolina.