Roy Cooper, 2026 North Carolina Senate Democratic candidate
Roy Cooper
DEMOCRATIC
North Carolina Governor (D)
2017 – 2025

2026 North Carolina Senate Polls

Michael Whatley, 2026 North Carolina Senate Republican candidate
Michael Whatley
REPUBLICAN
Chair, Republican National Committee
2024 – 2025

2026 North Carolina Senate Polling Average:

Aggregate of all polls released for North Carolina's Senate election between Democrat Roy Cooper and Republican Michael Whatley. This page will update the moment new polls are released, including the polling average, projected margin, and survey details.

Year
2026
Race
Senate
State
North Carolina
Democratic candidate
Roy Cooper
Republican candidate
Michael Whatley
Incumbent / open seat
Open Seat
Polling average
48.7% D / 43.1% R
Polling average margin
D +5.5
Last updated
12:00 AM on August 18, 2026
Polls included
26
Latest poll
High Point University — August 18, 2026

North Carolina Senate Polling Trend

2026 North Carolina Senate Polling Average

Roy Cooper leads Michael Whatley by 5.6% in the Pollsmax polling average for the 2026 North Carolina Senate election, 48.7% to 43.1%. The average currently aggregates results from 26 polls. According to the latest North Carolina Senate poll, conducted by High Point University on August 18, Cooper leads Whatley 50% to 45%.

Democrat

%

Weighted polling average

Republican

%

Weighted polling average

Net margin

Polling average difference

Polls Included

Number of polls conducted

Latest North Carolina Senate Polls

Pollster
Date
Sample
Roy Cooper
Michael Whatley
Margin
Polling Average
48.7%
43.1%
D +5.5
High Point University
August 18, 2026
1,119 LV
50%
45%
D +5.0
Change Research (D)
August 6, 2026
915 LV
50%
43%
D +7.0
Change Research (D)
August 1, 2026
967 LV
50%
41%
D +9.0
YouGov (Elon)
July 31, 2026
466 LV
53%
42%
D +11.4
Fox News / Beacon Research
July 27, 2026
1,005 RV
53%
44%
D +9.0
Public Policy Polling (D)
July 10, 2026
759 V
48%
44%
D +4.0
New York Times / Siena College
June 27, 2026
601 LV
50%
43%
D +7.0
YouGov
June 4, 2026
905 LV
48%
34%
D +13.7
Harper Polling (R)
May 11, 2026
600 LV
50%
39%
D +11.0
Change Research (D)
May 8, 2026
957 LV
49%
42%
D +7.0
Opinion Diagnostics (R)
April 24, 2026
830 V
50%
41%
D +9.0
High Point University
April 6, 2026
703 LV
50%
42%
D +8.0
Quantus Insights (R)
April 1, 2026
987 LV
49%
44%
D +5.0
Harper Polling (R)
March 23, 2026
600 LV
49%
41%
D +8.0
Catawba College / YouGov
March 18, 2026
1,000 LV
48%
34%
D +14.0
Public Policy Polling (D)
March 14, 2026
556 V
47%
44%
D +3.0
Nexus Strategies / Strategic Partners Solutions
March 9, 2026
800 RV
50%
32%
D +18.0
Change Research (D)
February 4, 2026
1,069 RV
50%
40%
D +10.0
TIPP Insights (R)
January 15, 2026
1,512 RV
48%
24%
D +24.0
Change Research (D)
January 7, 2026
1,105 LV
47%
42%
D +5.0
Harper Polling (R)
November 10, 2025
600 LV
47%
39%
D +8.0
Harper Polling (R)
September 15, 2025
600 RV
46%
42%
D +4.0
Change Research (D)
September 8, 2025
855 LV
48%
41%
D +7.0
Harper Polling (R)
August 12, 2025
600 RV
47%
39%
D +8.0
Emerson College
July 30, 2025
1,000 RV
47%
41%
D +6.0
Victory Insights (R)
July 30, 2025
600 LV
44%
44%
Even

About the Pollsmax Polling Average

Pollsmax creates a time-weighted and partisanship-adjusted polling average from an aggregate of all polls conducted for the general election. See the polling methodology to learn more about how polls are standardized and weighted.