Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
A new poll shows former Gov. Roy Cooper holding an 11-point lead over Republican candidate Michael Whatley in the race for an open U.S. Senate seat in North Carolina.
The race was once expected to be among the nation's most expensive Senate contests of the 2026 cycle. But experts say the contest has not generated the level of spending or attention many predicted.
"We're not seeing the historic, jaw-dropping levels of spending that some people were predicting," said Jason Husser, director of the Elon University poll.
The latest poll of likely voters has Cooper at 53% and Whatley at 42%, with a margin of error of about five percentage points. Cooper has raised more than $35 million, while Whatley has raised less than half that: $16.1 million. Other Senate contests, including in Georgia, have drawn national attention because of their competitiveness and potential to determine control of the Senate.
"It's not just about North Carolina anymore," said Dr. Chris Cooper, professor and director of the Phil and Connie Haire Institute for Public Policy at Western Carolina University.
He says the Democratic Party may be directing more resources toward closer races in other states because of Roy Cooper's lead in North Carolina.
Earlier predictions suggested this Senate race could attract more than $1 billion in spending. So far, the fundraising totals have fallen well short of those expectations. Campaign advertising remains a major way the candidates reach voters.
Read more: wlos.com/news/local/roy-cooper-11-points-lead-michael-whatley-us-senate-race-new-poll-north-carolina-us-government-democrat-former-governor-gop-republican-rnc-elon-university-election-voters
#election #senate #vote #northcarolina
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WLOS ABC 13 News serves the Asheville, NC area and the rest of western North Carolina and Upstate South Carolina. We keep our audience informed through local news, weather forecasts, traffic updates, notices of community events, sports and entertainment programming since 1954.
This video and all Sinclair Broadcast Group content archives of local news and sports coverage are available for your use. For more information contact us at contentsales@sbgtv.com
A new poll shows former Gov. Roy Cooper holding an 11-point lead over Republican candidate Michael Whatley in the race for an open U.S. Senate seat in North Carolina.
The race was once expected to be among the nation's most expensive Senate contests of the 2026 cycle. But experts say the contest has not generated the level of spending or attention many predicted.
"We're not seeing the historic, jaw-dropping levels of spending that some people were predicting," said Jason Husser, director of the Elon University poll.
The latest poll of likely voters has Cooper at 53% and Whatley at 42%, with a margin of error of about five percentage points. Cooper has raised more than $35 million, while Whatley has raised less than half that: $16.1 million. Other Senate contests, including in Georgia, have drawn national attention because of their competitiveness and potential to determine control of the Senate.
"It's not just about North Carolina anymore," said Dr. Chris Cooper, professor and director of the Phil and Connie Haire Institute for Public Policy at Western Carolina University.
He says the Democratic Party may be directing more resources toward closer races in other states because of Roy Cooper's lead in North Carolina.
Earlier predictions suggested this Senate race could attract more than $1 billion in spending. So far, the fundraising totals have fallen well short of those expectations. Campaign advertising remains a major way the candidates reach voters.
Read more: wlos.com/news/local/roy-cooper-11-points-lead-michael-whatley-us-senate-race-new-poll-north-carolina-us-government-democrat-former-governor-gop-republican-rnc-elon-university-election-voters
#election #senate #vote #northcarolina
_______________
Follow WLOS on social media:
WLOS ABC 13 News on Facebook: facebook.com/News13
WLOS ABC 13 News on X: https://x.com/WLOS_13
WLOS ABC 13 News on Instagram: instagram.com/wlos_13
Subscribe to WLOS on YouTube: youtube.com/user/ABC13Channel/?sub_confirmation=1
For all of the day’s top local and national news, visit wlos.com
Stream our newscasts LIVE: wlos.com/watch
Have a news tip? Send it directly to us:
Email us: news@wlos.com
Call the Newsroom: 828.684.1340
--
WLOS ABC 13 News serves the Asheville, NC area and the rest of western North Carolina and Upstate South Carolina. We keep our audience informed through local news, weather forecasts, traffic updates, notices of community events, sports and entertainment programming since 1954.
This video and all Sinclair Broadcast Group content archives of local news and sports coverage are available for your use. For more information contact us at contentsales@sbgtv.com
