Roy Cooper wins North Carolina Senate race

Roy Cooper’s unbeaten record in elections held up Tuesday, as he won North Carolina’s open Senate seat. The seat was held by Republican Thom Tillis, who chose not to seek another term after frequent clashes with President Donald Trump.

With about 62% of votes counted, Cooper led Republican Michael Whatley, 64.6% to 33.7%. Most ballots counted so far were cast early, and Whatley appeared unlikely to make up the difference with the remaining Election Day votes. Cooper had won 66% of the early in-person vote, while Whatley had received 59% of Election Day ballots counted.

It is the first time since 2008 that a Democrat has won a Senate seat in North Carolina.

Cooper’s election-night gathering at a Raleigh hotel was celebratory, with music playing and attendees watching CNN in the background. Republicans, meanwhile, had already begun shifting their attention elsewhere as signs mounted that Whatley was headed for a heavy loss. The national party started moving campaign money out of North Carolina in October, and a major Republican super PAC dropped its planned ad spending in the race to focus on more competitive contests.

Trump criticized Cooper during campaign events in the state. At an October rally, he said Cooper was going to become North Carolina’s senator and called the prospect “crazy.”

Whatley, 58, backed Trump’s agenda and campaigned on tax cuts and the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. He also accused Cooper of being weak on violent crime. Trump, for his part, described North Carolina’s cities as “blood-soaked killing fields.”

A former state Republican Party and Republican National Committee chairman, Whatley had never held elected office and was outraised by Cooper.

Cooper had previously won four terms as attorney general and two as governor. In the Senate race, he pitched himself as a centrist, emphasizing affordability and vowing to “make stuff cost less.”

“North Carolina — I’m grateful for your trust,” Cooper wrote after media outlets called the race. “We have more in common than divides us. Here’s to building better days ahead!”