#19 trendingNC Election Results
NC Election Results 2026: Roy Cooper Wins Senate Seat as Democrats Gain in North Carolina's House Races
North Carolina voters handed Democrats a key U.S. Senate win on Tuesday, Nov. 3, and Democratic House candidates led in several Republican-held districts as counting wrapped up overnight. Here is where the major North Carolina races stood as of early Wednesday. All results are unofficial until county canvasses and state certification.
U.S. Senate: Roy Cooper wins
Former Gov. Roy Cooper, a Democrat, won the open U.S. Senate seat, according to a race call from the Associated Press, NPR reported. He defeated Republican Michael Whatley, a former Republican National Committee chair whom President Donald Trump picked to replace retiring GOP Sen. Thom Tillis.
Cooper becomes the first Democrat elected to the Senate from North Carolina since 2008, according to NPR. WRAL described Cooper as having “crushed” Whatley at the top of the ticket.
Cooper, governor from 2017 to 2025, ran on affordability with a “Make Stuff Cost Less” tour. Whatley focused on crime and immigration, but NPR reported that polls showed the economy was voters’ top concern. National GOP groups pulled TV ads from the state weeks before the election and moved money to other races.
U.S. House: Davis holds NC-1, Democrats lead in GOP seats
WRAL reported that Democrats appeared poised to flip as many as five of the state’s House seats. Republicans held 10 of North Carolina’s 14 seats going into Tuesday. Status as of WRAL’s early Wednesday update, with all precincts reporting:
| District | Status (unofficial) |
|---|---|
| 1st | Democrat Don Davis beat Republican Laurie Buckhout, 49.4% to 47.3%; Buckhout acknowledged the loss |
| 6th | Democrat Cyril Jefferson led GOP Rep. Addison McDowell by about 2.3 points |
| 9th | Democrat Richard Ojeda led GOP Rep. Richard Hudson by about 2.2 points and claimed victory |
| 11th (open) | Democrat Jamie Ager beat Republican Jennifer Balkcom, 57.1% to 41.3% |
| 13th | Democrat Paul Barringer led GOP Rep. Brad Knott by about 7,650 votes |
| 14th | Democrat Lakesha Womack led GOP Rep. Tim Moore, 51.1% to 48.8% |
| 3rd | GOP Rep. Greg Murphy led Democrat Raymond Smith by 233 votes |
| 5th | GOP Rep. Virginia Foxx led Democrat Chuck Hubbard by 99 votes |
| 7th | GOP Rep. David Rouzer led Democrat Kimberly Hardy, 49.9% to 49.2% |
Several of these margins are very narrow. The 3rd and 5th districts in particular are separated by a few hundred votes or fewer, and outstanding ballots or a recount could matter. Treat any lead here as a lead, not a final result.
Elsewhere, Democratic Reps. Deborah Ross (2nd), Valerie Foushee (4th) and Alma Adams (12th) won easily, and Republican Rep. Mark Harris won the 8th District, WRAL reported. GOP Rep. Pat Harrigan appeared to win the 10th by a little more than a point.
State courts: Anita Earls reelected
Democratic Justice Anita Earls won a second eight-year term on the North Carolina Supreme Court, leading Republican Sarah Stevens 58.85% to 41.15% with 99.96% of precincts reporting, according to Carolina Journal. Democratic Court of Appeals judges John Arrowood and Toby Hampson won new terms, and Democrat Christine Walczyk won the open seat left by Judge Allegra Collins.
The results don’t change the partisan balance: Republicans keep their 5-2 majority on the Supreme Court and a 12-3 edge on the Court of Appeals, Carolina Journal noted.
Why the results matter
WRAL reported that Democrats could hold as many as 10 of the state’s 14 House seats when the new Congress is sworn in in January, a dramatic shift in a state Trump carried three times. The outlet cited a recent WRAL/WSOC poll that put Trump’s approval rating in North Carolina at 37%.
FAQ
Who won the North Carolina Senate race?
Democrat Roy Cooper, according to the AP’s race call.
Was there a North Carolina governor’s race in 2026?
No. North Carolina elects its governor in presidential election years, so the office was not on this year’s ballot.
Where can I see official NC results?
The North Carolina State Board of Elections posts unofficial results on election night and certified results after county canvasses.
Are the close House races final?
No. Several districts were separated by a few hundred votes or a couple of points as of early Wednesday and could still change as remaining ballots are counted.