- Today
- Holidays
- Birthdays
- Reminders
- Cities
- Atlanta
- Austin
- Baltimore
- Berwyn
- Beverly Hills
- Birmingham
- Boston
- Brooklyn
- Buffalo
- Charlotte
- Chicago
- Cincinnati
- Cleveland
- Columbus
- Dallas
- Denver
- Detroit
- Fort Worth
- Houston
- Indianapolis
- Knoxville
- Las Vegas
- Los Angeles
- Louisville
- Madison
- Memphis
- Miami
- Milwaukee
- Minneapolis
- Nashville
- New Orleans
- New York
- Omaha
- Orlando
- Philadelphia
- Phoenix
- Pittsburgh
- Portland
- Raleigh
- Richmond
- Rutherford
- Sacramento
- Salt Lake City
- San Antonio
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- San Jose
- Seattle
- Tampa
- Tucson
- Washington
Washington Today
By the People, for the People
Trump Ally Michael Whatley Wins North Carolina GOP Senate Primary
Whatley will face off against popular former governor Roy Cooper in November's general election
Published on Mar. 4, 2026
Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›
Michael Whatley, a close ally of former President Donald Trump, won the Republican primary for North Carolina's vacant U.S. Senate seat on Tuesday, according to media reports. Whatley, the former chairman of the Republican National Committee, will now face off against Democrat Roy Cooper, the state's popular former governor, in a closely watched general election battle that could help determine control of the Senate.
Why it matters
North Carolina has emerged as a key battleground state in recent presidential elections, and the race to replace retiring Republican Senator Thom Tillis is expected to be one of the most expensive and closely contested Senate races in the country. The outcome could have significant implications for the balance of power in the U.S. Senate.
The details
Whatley emerged victorious from a crowded seven-candidate Republican primary field, winning over 30% of the vote and avoiding a runoff. He was handpicked by Trump to contest the Senate seat. Cooper, the former Democratic governor, is viewed as a strong candidate, and Democrats believe they have a fighting chance of winning the seat despite the state's recent Republican leanings.
- Whatley won the Republican primary on March 3, 2026.
- The general election between Whatley and Cooper will take place in November 2026.
The players
Michael Whatley
A close ally of former President Donald Trump and the former chairman of the Republican National Committee, Whatley won the Republican primary for North Carolina's vacant U.S. Senate seat.
Roy Cooper
The popular former Democratic governor of North Carolina, Cooper will face off against Whatley in the general election for the Senate seat.
Thom Tillis
The Republican incumbent senator who announced he would retire early, leaving the seat vacant.
What they’re saying
“North Carolina has emerged as one of the most closely contested swing states in the last few presidential races. Trump narrowly won the state in 2024 by just over 3 percentage points. The battle to replace Tillis is expected to be one of the most expensive in the country.”
— Tim Reid, Reuters Reporter (taylorvilledailynews.com)
What’s next
The general election between Whatley and Cooper will take place in November 2026, with control of the Senate potentially hanging in the balance.
The takeaway
The North Carolina Senate race is shaping up to be a high-stakes battle between a Trump-aligned Republican and a popular Democratic former governor, with the outcome potentially having significant implications for the balance of power in the U.S. Senate.
