Roy Cooper Wins North Carolina Senate Race

Democrat Roy Cooper won North Carolina's open U.S. Senate seat, according to an Associated Press race call. The AP called the race at 8:23 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026, according to NPR.

Cooper defeated Republican Michael Whatley, a former chair of the Republican National Committee, the party's national committee. Both men won their party nominations earlier in 2026.

The seat was open because Republican Sen. Thom Tillis did not seek reelection. Tillis announced in 2025 that he would not run again.

Cooper served as governor of North Carolina from 2017 to 2024. He is the first Democrat elected to the U.S. Senate from North Carolina since 2008.

The win gave Democrats a Senate flip, meaning a seat that had been held by a Republican moved to their side. The North Carolina State Board of Elections has published unofficial results for the November 3 general election.