Former North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper (D) is the projected winner of the U.S. Senate race in North Carolina, according to projections by Decision Desk HQ, the Associated Press, and CBS News. Cooper defeated Michael Whatley, the former chair of the Republican National Committee, to flip the seat previously held by retiring Senator Thom Tillis (R). As of Tuesday evening, Cooper held a lead of approximately 35 points with 51 percent of precincts reporting.
The vacancy was created after Tillis announced in June 2025 that he would not seek reelection. His decision followed a public disagreement with his party over the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which Tillis opposed due to its cuts to Medicaid benefits. Whatley, a former Republican operative and staffer for former Sen. Elizabeth Dole, entered the race with an endorsement from President Trump but faced a significant spending disadvantage compared to Cooper.
Throughout the campaign, Cooper focused on a "Make Stuff Cost Less" tour, addressing voter concerns regarding affordability and the economy. Whatley centered his platform on crime and immigration, frequently criticizing Cooper for a COVID-era settlement that led to the release of some state prisoners. During the final weeks of the race, national Republican organizations redirected television advertising funds away from North Carolina to other states, such as Kansas.
The scale of the victory is reflected in early returns showing Cooper with 65.3% of the vote (1,567,246 votes) to Whatley’s 33.0% (790,862 votes) with an estimated 60% of votes counted. This represents a significant margin in a state that President Trump won by three points in 2024. Voters may notice immediate impacts on federal legislative priorities starting in January, particularly concerning the repeal of tariffs or the management of the war in Iran, which were cited by party leaders as key campaign issues.
The loss of this seat sets a precedent for how presidential endorsements and national party funding may shift in future midterm cycles when internal party disagreements occur. While President Trump and Vice President Vance held multiple rallies in North Carolina to bolster turnout, the withdrawal of national GOP ad spending in October indicated a shift in strategic focus. The next formal step in the process is the certification of election results by state officials, followed by the swearing-in of the new Senate on January 3, 2027.