Cooper leads Whatley by 7 points in NC Senate race

A new poll shows North Carolina Attorney General Roy Cooper leading Republican state party chair Michael Whatley by 7 points in the U.S. Senate race, with less than three months until Election Day. The Carolina Forward survey, conducted by liberal-leaning Change Research, found Cooper at 50 percent support among 915 likely voters, compared to 43 percent for Whatley. The poll’s margin of error is plus or minus 3.6 percentage points.

The race has tightened slightly in recent weeks after months of steady Democratic advantage, but Cooper still holds the lead that national and state Democrats hope will help flip a Senate seat in a closely watched battleground. North Carolina’s Senate contest is one of the most competitive in the country, with control of the chamber hanging on a handful of tight races. Democrats need to gain two or three seats to reclaim the majority, and this seat is considered a prime pickup opportunity.

The survey comes as both parties pour resources into the state, with outside groups already spending millions on ads and voter outreach. Whatley has criticized Cooper’s record on crime and energy policy, while Cooper has highlighted his work as attorney general and tied Whatley to controversial national Republican figures. Recent Supreme Court rulings and debates over abortion access have also energized voters in North Carolina, a state with a fast-growing electorate and shifting political trends.

Early voting begins in mid-October, and the Cooper campaign is banking on high turnout among young voters and Black communities, which have been core Democratic constituencies. Whatley’s team is focusing on rural areas and independents, hoping to peel off enough support to close the gap. The outcome could influence not just the balance of power in Washington but also North Carolina’s role as a presidential battleground in 2024 and beyond.