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North Carolina Senate

  • Roy Cooper (Dem)
  • Michael Whatley (Rep)

Democrats are favored, winning in 91 in 100 simulations.

Forecast detail

as of Aug 17, 2026, 3:27 AM UTC

Rating

Favors Dem

Win probability

D 91%

Estimated margin

D+9.1

5th–95th interval

R+1.9 to D+20.2

Win probability over time

Dem win probability Rep win probability Tossup band

Polls

Dem-leaning poll Rep-leaning poll current average: D+10.3

Pollster Dates Sample Results Margin House adj. Source
Harper Polling Aug 9–Aug 10, 2026 600 lv Roy Cooper 52.0% Michael Whatley 39.0% D+13.0 D+12.0 D+1.0 lean removed Source
Change Research Aug 3–Aug 6, 2026 915 lv Roy Cooper 50.0% Michael Whatley 43.0% D+7.0 D+8.7 R+1.7 lean removed Source
Change Research Jul 29–Aug 1, 2026 967 unknown Roy Cooper 50.0% Michael Whatley 41.0% D+9.0 D+10.7 R+1.7 lean removed Source
Elon University/YouGov Jul 23–Jul 31, 2026 800 a Roy Cooper 47.0% Michael Whatley 33.0% D+14.0 Source
Elon University/YouGov Jul 23–Jul 31, 2026 717 rv Roy Cooper 51.0% Michael Whatley 35.0% D+16.0 Source
Elon University/YouGov Jul 23–Jul 31, 2026 466 lv Roy Cooper 53.0% Michael Whatley 42.0% D+11.0 Source
Beacon Research/Shaw & Co. Research Jul 23–Jul 27, 2026 1,005 rv Roy Cooper 53.0% Michael Whatley 44.0% D+9.0 D+8.3 D+0.7 lean removed Source
Public Policy Polling Jul 10–Jul 11, 2026 759 lv Roy Cooper 48.0% Michael Whatley 44.0% D+4.0 D+4.2 R+0.2 lean removed Source
New York Times/Siena University Jun 15–Jun 27, 2026 601 lv Roy Cooper 50.0% Michael Whatley 43.0% D+7.0 D+8.6 R+1.6 lean removed Source
Catawba College/YouGov Jun 1–Jun 10, 2026 905 lv Roy Cooper 48.0% Michael Whatley 34.0% D+14.0 Source
Harper Polling May 10–May 11, 2026 600 lv Roy Cooper 50.0% Michael Whatley 39.0% D+11.0 D+10.0 D+1.0 lean removed Source
Change Research May 4–May 8, 2026 957 lv Roy Cooper 49.0% Michael Whatley 42.0% D+7.0 D+8.7 R+1.7 lean removed Source
Opinion Diagnostics Apr 21–Apr 24, 2026 830 unknown Roy Cooper 50.0% Michael Whatley 41.0% D+9.0 Source
High Point University/YouGov Mar 26–Apr 6, 2026 800 rv Roy Cooper 49.0% Michael Whatley 39.0% D+10.0 Source
High Point University/YouGov Mar 26–Apr 6, 2026 703 lv Roy Cooper 50.0% Michael Whatley 42.0% D+8.0 Source
Quantus Insights Mar 31–Apr 1, 2026 987 lv Roy Cooper 49.0% Michael Whatley 44.0% D+5.0 D+6.1 R+1.1 lean removed Source
Harper Polling Mar 22–Mar 23, 2026 600 lv Roy Cooper 49.0% Michael Whatley 41.0% D+8.0 D+7.0 D+1.0 lean removed Source
Catawba College/YouGov Mar 9–Mar 18, 2026 1,000 lv Roy Cooper 48.0% Michael Whatley 34.0% D+14.0 Source
Public Policy Polling Mar 13–Mar 14, 2026 556 unknown Roy Cooper 47.0% Michael Whatley 44.0% D+3.0 D+3.2 R+0.2 lean removed Source
Nexus Strategies/ Strategic Partners Solutions Mar 8–Mar 9, 2026 800 rv Roy Cooper 50.0% Michael Whatley 32.0% D+18.0 Source
Change Research Jan 31–Feb 4, 2026 1,069 rv Roy Cooper 50.0% Michael Whatley 40.0% D+10.0 D+11.7 R+1.7 lean removed Source
TIPP Insights Jan 12–Jan 15, 2026 1,512 rv Roy Cooper 48.0% Michael Whatley 24.0% D+24.0 Source
Change Research Jan 5–Jan 7, 2026 1,105 lv Roy Cooper 47.0% Michael Whatley 42.0% D+5.0 D+6.7 R+1.7 lean removed Source
Harper Polling Nov 9–Nov 10, 2025 600 lv Roy Cooper 47.0% Michael Whatley 39.0% D+8.0 D+7.0 D+1.0 lean removed Source
Harper Polling Sep 14–Sep 15, 2025 600 rv Roy Cooper 46.0% Michael Whatley 42.0% D+4.0 D+3.0 D+1.0 lean removed Source
Change Research Sep 2–Sep 8, 2025 855 lv Roy Cooper 48.0% Michael Whatley 41.0% D+7.0 D+8.7 R+1.7 lean removed Source
Harper Polling Aug 11–Aug 12, 2025 600 rv Roy Cooper 47.0% Michael Whatley 39.0% D+8.0 D+7.0 D+1.0 lean removed Source
Victory Insights Jul 28–Jul 30, 2025 600 lv Michael Whatley 44.0% Roy Cooper 44.0% Even Source
Victory Insights Jul 28–Jul 30, 2025 600 lv Roy Cooper 43.0% Michael Whatley 40.0% D+3.0 Source
Emerson College Jul 28–Jul 30, 2025 1,000 rv Roy Cooper 47.0% Michael Whatley 41.0% D+6.0 D+4.9 D+1.1 lean removed Source

Dispatches about this race

No dispatches about this race yet.