North Carolina Senate
Thom Tillis (R) is not running again. 4 candidates were on the ballot on November 3, 2026. The Cook Political Report rates it likely Democratic.
Who should win this race, and why?Say what you think. Other readers can answer you.Discuss
Roy Cooper
Democrat · former governor and attorney general of North Carolina
DLiberty Score D63 out of 100 across 5 principles. Graded on what Cooper has said and done, because I have no votes in Congress to count for Cooper.
Raised $49,585,341 since January 2025: 62% transfers and other income, 36% from people, 2% from PACs and other committees. The filing at FEC.gov
Michael Whatley
Republican · former Republican National Committee and state party chairman
A-Liberty Score A-91 out of 100 across 7 principles. Graded on what Whatley has said and done, because I have no votes in Congress to count for Whatley.
Raised $13,668,468 since January 2025: 53% from people, 39% transfers and other income, 7% from PACs and other committees. The filing at FEC.gov
Higher on Liberty Score: Michael Whatley. Michael Whatley: A-, 91 out of 100 from words and actions, with no votes in Congress to count. Roy Cooper: D, 63 out of 100 from words and actions, with no votes in Congress to count.
Voting in North Carolina: how to register, vote early or vote by mail. Election Day was November 3.
Side by side
A solid letter is a grade from recorded votes on that principle. An outlined letter is on the same scale, for a candidate with no votes: it comes from what that candidate has said and done, and every source is listed below.
Roy Cooper, on the record
I have no votes in Congress to count for Cooper, so the grade above comes from this list: what Cooper has said and done on my principles. Each line has its source, and each is marked with the same test I use for votes.
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The day after the United States began striking the Islamic Republic, thanked American troops for killing leaders and damaging weapons of what he called an evil and oppressive regime, and said Americans were owed the objectives, the risks and the exit strategy of the war.
“I’m grateful for our troops who eliminated leaders and damaged weapons of this evil and oppressive regime. But Americans fear another costly, drawn out war that puts our troops in harm’s way and removes focus and resources from needs here at home.”
- By the test I use for votes
- Not clear either way
He credits the damage done to the regime and questions the war in the same statement. That does not settle whether he backs the pressure, so it counts for nothing.
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Told a rally in Raleigh in September 2026 that his plan includes ending the war with the Islamic Republic.
“we want to end this war in Iran. We've got to do that”
- By the test I use for votes
- Not clear either way
Wanting the war over does not say how it should end, or whether he would vote to stop it. I mark the same words from Mike Rogers in Michigan the same way. It counts for nothing.
-
As governor, signed legislation against the boycott, divestment and sanctions campaign aimed at Israel, and a law writing the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance definition of antisemitism into state law.
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
The measure is treating Israel as an ally. A law against boycotting it is that.
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In February 2022, signed an executive order telling state agencies to end contracts and operations that benefit Russian entities, in response to the invasion of Ukraine.
“Our state stands in solidarity with the people of Ukraine as they fight courageously against a tyrant to defend their country, their democracy and their freedom.”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
The measure is backing Ukraine against Putin. I count a vote for aid to Ukraine as with liberty.
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Announced that the North Carolina National Guard would send armored personnel carriers to Ukraine as part of an American support package.
“North Carolina stands with the people of Ukraine and is ready to support their fight for democracy and freedom.”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
I count a vote for military aid to Ukraine as with liberty.
-
After the North Carolina Democratic Party passed a resolution calling for an arms embargo on Israel, said he did not agree with it and called Israel an important ally.
“I don’t agree with the party resolution, and Israel is an important ally.”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
I count votes to cut off weapons to Israel as against liberty. He rejected the call from his own state party for an embargo.
-
Vetoed House Bill 805, which would have raised the penalties for rioting, saying it was meant to deter peaceful protest.
“this legislation is unnecessary and is intended to intimidate and deter people from exercising their constitutional rights to peacefully protest”
- By the test I use for votes
- Not clear either way
He gave free speech as his reason, but the bill punished rioting, not speech. My list of scored votes has nothing of this kind on it, so it counts for nothing.
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Speaking in 2024 about the protests on college campuses over the war in Gaza, said it was good to live in a country where people are not afraid to protest.
“It’s wonderful to live in a democracy when people’s voices can be heard and they’re unafraid to protest. In many countries, that’s not the case.”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
The measure is no censorship by government. Defending the right to protest is that.
-
His housing plan calls for removing rules that raise the cost of building homes.
“Eliminate Unnecessary Rules That Drive Up Housing Costs. Spur housing construction by streamlining rules, speeding reviews and converting commercial buildings to housing.”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Less regulation is part of the measure. The same plan would also stop large investors from buying single-family homes, which is the other direction.
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Opposes the 2025 tax and spending law known as the One Big Beautiful Bill, while saying he supports its tax deductions for tips, overtime and Social Security income.
- By the test I use for votes
- Against liberty
I count a vote for that law as with liberty, because of the tax cuts in it.
-
Vetoed House Bill 324, which would have barred public school teachers from promoting a list of ideas about race, among them that one race is superior to another or that anyone should feel guilt over their race.
“The legislature should be focused on supporting teachers, helping students recover lost learning and investing in our public schools”
- By the test I use for votes
- Against liberty
I count a vote against teaching critical race theory in schools as with liberty. He vetoed the state bill of that kind.
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Vetoed three bills on the same day: the Fairness in Women’s Sports Act, a bill on gender transition for minors, and the Parents’ Bill of Rights.
“We don’t need politicians inflaming their political culture wars by making broad, uninformed decisions about an extremely small number of vulnerable children that are already handled by a robust system that relies on parents, schools and sports organizations.”
- By the test I use for votes
- Against liberty
I count a vote for the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act as with liberty. He vetoed the state bill of the same kind.
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As attorney general, after the 2015 terrorist attacks in Paris, backed a pause in admitting Syrian refugees until screening was as strong as possible.
“As chief law enforcement officer of North Carolina, I support asking the federal government to pause refugee entries to make sure we have the most effective screening process possible so our humanitarian efforts are not hijacked”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
The measure is strict vetting for entry from countries that cannot vet their travellers. A pause on refugees from Syria until screening improves is that.
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As governor, opposed the January 2017 order from President Trump that temporarily barred citizens of seven mostly Muslim countries from entering the United States.
“Our vetting process has to be tough and thorough, but we should not impose a religious test to enter the country”
- By the test I use for votes
- Against liberty
I count a vote against the NO BAN Act as with liberty, because it keeps the power of the president to restrict entry from countries that cannot vet their travellers. He opposed the use of that power.
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Vetoed House Bill 370, which would have required North Carolina sheriffs to hold jail inmates wanted by federal immigration officers.
“This bill, in addition to being unconstitutional, weakens law enforcement in North Carolina by mandating sheriffs to do the job of federal agents, using local resources that could hurt their ability to protect their counties”
- By the test I use for votes
- Against liberty
I count a vote to penalize places that refuse to cooperate with immigration enforcement as with liberty. This veto kept that cooperation optional for sheriffs.
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Wrote on social media in August 2026 that the Border Patrol and ICE should secure the border and deport violent criminals who are in the country illegally.
“Border Patrol and ICE should do their jobs to make sure our borders are secure and violent criminals here illegally are deported.”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
A secure border and the deportation of criminals is the measure. Taken with the veto above, his record on it is mixed.
Michael Whatley, on the record
I have no votes in Congress to count for Whatley, so the grade above comes from this list: what Whatley has said and done on my principles. Each line has its source, and each is marked with the same test I use for votes.
-
Told Jewish Insider in September 2026 that he supports the war with the Islamic Republic and the decision to strike.
“long past time for presidents to quit kicking this can down the road. When President Trump made the call that Iran was too close to a nuclear weapon and went in — I think that is where we need to be.”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
The measure is maximum pressure on the regime in Tehran. I count a vote to stop American action against it as against liberty; he backs the action.
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Said at a campaign stop that the higher costs farmers face for fuel and fertilizer come from the war with the Islamic Republic. Punchbowl News reports he has also said he opposes a prolonged conflict.
“But that’s because of the war in Iran, not because of tariffs.”
- By the test I use for votes
- Not clear either way
Saying the war raises costs, or that it should not drag on, does not say whether the pressure on the regime should stop. That settles nothing, so it counts for nothing.
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Told Jewish Insider that Israel is the first ally of the United States in the Middle East. The report says he backs continued American military aid to Israel.
“Israel has been and will be our No. 1 ally in the Middle East and they need to be and we need to make absolutely sure that we have a senator who is going to fight for that relationship.”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
I count votes for security aid to Israel as with liberty, and votes to cut it as against.
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Backs the 2025 tax law, which he calls the Working Families Tax Cuts, and says he will work for more policies like it.
“I will always work to enact policies like the Working Families Tax Cuts which allow you to make more and keep more of your money”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
I count a vote for that law as with liberty, because of the tax cuts in it.
-
Said at a news conference in Raleigh that tariffs will stay part of trade policy and will help North Carolina companies.
“We need to have trade policies, and obviously tariffs are going to be part of that”
- By the test I use for votes
- Not clear either way
I haven't ruled on tariffs yet, so this counts for nothing.
-
At a campaign event in Pittsboro, praised the North Carolina laws on transgender athletes in school sports and on gender transition for minors, which became law over the vetoes of Cooper.
“Roy Cooper is going to fight for boys who want to play in girls' sports and men who want to go in women's locker rooms”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
I count a vote for the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act as with liberty. He backs the state law of the same kind.
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States on his campaign site that he will work to keep what he calls radical woke ideology out of schools.
“From defending Second Amendment rights, to protecting life, supporting our law enforcement, and keeping radical woke ideology out of schools, I will fight night and day against the Left’s agenda.”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
The measure is against race and gender ideology in schools.
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Told a summit of pastors in Raleigh that the country does not need separation of church and state, and that North Carolina needs to be a godly state.
“We don't need separation of faith and politics. We don't need separation of church and state.”
- By the test I use for votes
- Against liberty
The measure is no religious law in government and the same freedom for believers and non-believers. Rejecting the separation of church and state is the other side of that.
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Said at a rally in Gastonia that he wants the United States to have the strongest armed forces in the world.
“I want us to have the strongest Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines and Coast Guard in the entire world.”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
The measure is funding and equipping the armed forces. This states the aim, without a number.
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Told the president of the union of Border Patrol agents, which endorsed him, that he would see to it that the agents have the laws and the money they need.
“And I'm going to make sure that we have the laws in place. And you have the funding in place.”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
I count a vote for the Secure America Act, the largest immigration enforcement funding vote of 2026, as with liberty.
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States on his campaign site that he fully supports securing the border and deporting criminals who are in the country illegally.
“I am 100% supportive of President Trump securing the border and deporting the millions of criminal illegal aliens that Joe Biden and Roy Cooper allowed into this country.”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
The measure is a secure border and deporting those who break the law.
Also on the ballot
Shannon Bray (Libertarian), Michael Dublin (Green).
Who is on the ballot: the state election offices, as listed on Wikipedia on November 3, 2026, checked against the candidate file of the Federal Election Commission. Race rating: the Cook Political Report, November 2, 2026. See a name that is wrong or missing? Say so in the discussion.
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North Carolina Senate
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