Roy Cooper's North Carolina Senate race could help decide control of the next Congress

Former Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper’s Senate race against Republican Michael Whatley is one of Democrats’ best chances to flip a GOP-held seat in 2026. Democrats have not won a presidential or U.S. Senate race in North Carolina since 2008, even as they have won the governor’s race in each of the past three presidential election years. The race will test whether North Carolina’s split-ticket tradition can survive national attention on Senate races that will determine control of Washington. Every few years, North Carolina offers Democrats the same bargain: spend here with election dollars, organize campaigns here and believe this time will be different. The state gives them reasons to hope. Growth is reshaping its suburbs. Urban centers like Raleigh, Charlotte and the Research Triangle are producing more Democratic votes. Statewide races remain close. Then, in the contests that decide p...