North Carolina Primaries Conclude, Establishing General Election Candidates for U.S. Senate and House

North Carolina held its primary elections, determining the candidates who will advance to the November general election for various federal and state offices. In the prominent U.S. Senate race, former Democratic Governor Roy Cooper and former Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Whatley secured their party's nominations. Congressional primaries also took place across the state's recently redrawn districts, setting the stage for several competitive contests.

Vote counting experienced a brief delay on election night due to an extended voting period in one precinct.

Primary Election Overview

North Carolina voters participated in primary elections to select candidates for U.S. Senate, U.S. House of Representatives, state Senate, state House, and state Court of Appeals.

The state's political landscape is characterized by its status as a battleground state with a history of ticket-splitting, where voters have supported Republican presidential candidates while electing Democratic governors.

These primaries mark the beginning of this year's general election cycle in North Carolina.

Polls were scheduled to close at 7:30 p.m. ET, but vote tallies were delayed until 8:30 p.m. ET. This followed the state Board of Elections' extension of voting in one precinct due to an earlier opening delay.

As of February 21, North Carolina had approximately 7.7 million registered voters. Registered Republicans and Democrats each constituted about 2.3 million voters, while over 3 million voters were not affiliated with any party.

• Registered party members were eligible to vote only in their own party’s primary.
• Unaffiliated voters had the option to participate in either primary.
• In the 2022 U.S. Senate primaries, approximately 765,000 votes were cast in the Republican primary and 619,000 in the Democratic primary. A substantial portion of these votes were cast before primary day.
• For the current contest, nearly 417,000 Democratic primary ballots and approximately 295,000 Republican primary ballots were cast by the Monday morning preceding the election.
• Most counties prioritize the release of early and absentee vote results in their initial updates after polls close.

A runoff election may be requested by the second-place finisher if the top candidate receives 30% or less of the vote.

Candidates can request a recount if the margin is less than 0.5% of the total votes. This threshold is 10,000 votes for statewide races or 1% for non-statewide races.

U.S. Senate Race

The U.S. Senate race is anticipated to be a closely watched and potentially one of the most expensive campaigns in U.S. history, as it could influence the balance of power in the U.S. Senate. The seat is open due to the retirement of Republican Senator Thom Tillis. A Democrat has not won a Senate race in North Carolina since 2008.

Former two-term Governor Roy Cooper secured the Democratic nomination, competing against five other candidates. Cooper, aged 68, has been undefeated in North Carolina elections since the mid-1980s, serving 16 years as attorney general and eight years as governor until 2024.

He has stated his intention to serve as an independent senator, open to collaboration and challenge. Cooper's campaign has criticized Whatley's positions, including his support for higher tariffs and potential Medicaid spending reductions, and linked him to delayed Hurricane Helene recovery aid. Cooper has stated his career has focused on prosecuting violent criminals and ensuring their incarceration.

Former Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Whatley won the Republican primary, which included five other candidates such as author Don Brown and conservative activist Michele Morrow. Whatley, aged 57, previously worked in President George W. Bush’s administration, served former North Carolina Senator Elizabeth Dole, and worked as an energy lobbyist.

He received an endorsement from President Donald Trump, who he aims to support as a conservative advocate in the Senate.

Whatley has stated his intent to support policies aligning with former President Trump's agenda, citing goals such as reduced taxes and spending and a strengthened military. His campaign has criticized Cooper's record on criminal justice, asserting he promoted lenient policies as governor, referencing the fatal stabbing of Iryna Zarutska in Charlotte.

Both Cooper and Whatley significantly outraised their primary opponents.

U.S. House Races

Primary elections were held in nearly all of North Carolina's U.S. House districts. New district boundaries, recently redrawn by the Republican-controlled state legislature, were in effect for these primaries. The new map has resulted in Republicans holding 10 of North Carolina's 14 U.S. House districts.

The 1st Congressional District was redrawn to include more Republican-leaning voters, making a third term potentially more challenging for Democratic Representative Don Davis. Davis did not face primary opposition.

Five Republican candidates competed for their party's nomination to challenge Davis, including Laurie Buckhout, Carteret County Sheriff Asa Buck, state Senator Bobby Hanig, Lenoir County Commissioner Eric Rouse, and attorney Ashley-Nicole Russell. Buckhout was the Republican nominee in 2024 and served in the Trump administration. The district is considered a potential Republican gain.

In the heavily Democratic Raleigh-Durham area, incumbent Democratic U.S. Representative Valerie Foushee won her primary against Durham County Commissioner Nida Allam. Allam had received an endorsement from Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders.

Both candidates presented progressive platforms. Campaign discussions highlighted differing positions on issues such as corporate PAC contributions, immigration, and the conflict in Gaza. The newly redrawn 4th District includes parts of Wake and Chatham counties, in addition to Durham and Orange, while losing four smaller counties from its previous configuration.

In the western part of the state, Jamie Ager secured the Democratic nomination. He was designated a "Red to Blue" candidate by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. Ager will face incumbent Republican Representative Chuck Edwards, who won his primary.

Edwards, who was endorsed by President Trump, faced a challenge from Adam Smith, who cited a lack of action from Edwards following Hurricane Helene in October 2024. Democrats are focusing campaigning efforts on this district.