The 2026 United States Senate election in North Carolina will be held on November 3, 2026, to elect a member of the United States Senate to represent the state of North Carolina. Incumbent two-term Republican Senator Thom Tillis, was re-elected in 2020 with 48.7% of the vote against former State Senator Cal Cunningham. On June 10, 2023, the North Carolina Republican Party had censured Tillis over his bipartisan support on gun control and same-sex marriage.[1] Outgoing governor Roy Cooper, who is term-limited as governor in 2024, is considered a potential Democratic candidate. On July 30, 2024, NBC reported that Cooper is planning to run for the Senate seat.[2]
 | |||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
Background
editA typical swing state, North Carolina is considered to be a purple to slightly red southern state at the federal level. It was also a top battleground state in the 2020 and 2024 presidential elections. The state backed the Republican candidate in both elections by 1.3% and 3.4%, respectively.
Both parties have seen success in the state in recent years. Republicans control both chambers of the North Carolina Legislature and hold a supermajority in North Carolina's U.S. House delegation, as well as both of the state's senate seats. However, Democrats have seen success in statewide races, including in 2024, where they won half of the state's executive offices.
Republican primary
editSenator Thom Tillis is considered vulnerable to a primary challenger from his right. On June 10, 2023, the North Carolina Republican Party voted to censure Tillis for his support for the Respect for Marriage Act and immigration reform attempts.[3][4]
Candidates
editDeclared
edit- Thom Tillis, incumbent U.S. Senator (2015–present)[5]
Potential
- Michele Morrow, nurse, former homeschooling cooperative teacher, nominee for Superintendent of Public Instruction in 2024[4]
- Mark Robinson, outgoing Lieutenant Governor of North Carolina (2021–present), nominee for governor of North Carolina in 2024[6][7][4]
Democratic primary
editCandidates
editAnnouncement pending
edit- Wiley Nickel, U.S. Representative from North Carolina's 13th congressional district (2023–present) (announcement expected in February 2025)[5]
Potential
edit- Roy Cooper, Governor of North Carolina (2017–present)[2]
- Jeff Jackson, Attorney General-elect of North Carolina, U.S. Representative from North Carolina's 14th congressional district (2023–present), former state senator (2014–2023)[4]
References
edit- ^ Sonasundaram, Praveena (June 12, 2023). "North Carolina Republicans censure Sen. Thom Tillis after stance on LGBTQ issues". The Washington Post.
- ^ a b Alcindor, Yamiche; Kapur, Sahil; Richard, Zoë (July 29, 2024). "North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper backs out of consideration to be Kamala Harris' running mate". NBC News. Retrieved July 29, 2024.
One source directly involved in her search for a running mate said Cooper took himself out of the mix because he wants to run for the U.S. Senate in 2026
- ^ Berryman, Kim; Pellish, Aaron (June 11, 2023). "Republican Sen. Thom Tillis is censured by North Carolina GOP delegates at convention". CNN.
- ^ a b c d "Trump nominations put NC's Thom Tillis, the nation's 'most vulnerable' Republican senator, in the spotlight". WRAL.com. Capitol Broadcasting Company. November 17, 2024. Retrieved November 17, 2024.
- ^ a b Cohen, Zach C. (November 13, 2024). "Senate Republicans Face a More Competitive Senate Map in 2026". Bloomberg Government. Retrieved November 13, 2024.
Tillis told reporters in September he plans to run for re-election
- ^ Billman, Jeffrey (November 6, 2024). "Mark Robinson's Predictable Implosion". The Assembly NC. Retrieved November 17, 2024.
And, while he said he was looking forward to spending time with his grandchildren, he also hinted at a future run. 'It is about the state that you love, the state that I fully intend to continue to serve for the next two months, and who knows, maybe in the future once again, somewhere in office, who knows, I don't know.'
{{cite web}}: line feed character in|quote=at position 116 (help) - ^ Paur, Chase Pellegrini de (November 8, 2024). "Mark Robinson Spends Election Day and Night in the Triangle—Sanguine, Defiant, and Looking to the Future". INDY Week. Retrieved November 17, 2024.
...expects Robinson to run for office again, perhaps challenging Tillis in the 2026 Republican primary for the U.S. Senate.