2026 United States Senate election in North Carolina
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| Elections in North Carolina |
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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 with 48.7% of the vote in 2020. On June 10, 2023, the North Carolina Republican Party had censured Tillis over his support of gun control and same-sex marriage.[1]
Republicans have won every U.S. Senate election in North Carolina since 2010.
Background
[edit]A 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 3.2%, 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.
As one of only two seats up held by a Republican in a state that did not vote for Trump by double digits in 2024, North Carolina is considered a key Senate battleground in 2026.
Republican primary
[edit]Senator 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.[2][3]
Candidates
[edit]Declared
[edit]- Andy Nilsson, teacher's assistant[4]
- Thom Tillis, incumbent U.S. Senator (2015–present)[5]
Potential
[edit]- Michele Morrow, nurse and nominee for Superintendent of Public Instruction in 2024[3]
- Lara Trump, former co-chair of the Republican National Committee (2024–2025) and daughter-in-law of president Donald Trump[6]
Declined
[edit]- Mark Robinson, former Lieutenant Governor of North Carolina (2021–2025) and nominee for governor in 2024[7]
Endorsements
[edit]U.S. senators
- John Barrasso, U.S. senator from Wyoming (2007–present)[8]
- Marsha Blackburn, U.S. senator from Tennessee (2019–present)[8]
- John Boozman, U.S. senator from Arkansas (2011–present)[8]
- Ted Budd, U.S. senator from North Carolina (2023–present)[8]
- Shelley Moore Capito, U.S. senator from West Virginia (2015–present)[8]
- Bill Cassidy, U.S. senator from Louisiana (2015–present)[8]
- Mike Crapo, U.S. senator from Idaho (1999–present)[8]
- Tom Cotton, U.S. senator from Arkansas (2015–present)[8]
- Steve Daines, U.S. senator from Montana (2015–present)[8]
- Joni Ernst, U.S. senator from Iowa (2015–present)[8]
- Deb Fischer, U.S. senator from Nebraska (2013–present)[8]
- Chuck Grassley, U.S. senator from Iowa (1981–present)[8]
- James Lankford, U.S. senator from Oklahoma (2015–present)[8]
- Cynthia Lummis, U.S. senator from Wyoming (2021–present)[8]
- Markwayne Mullin, U.S. senator from Oklahoma (2023–present)[8]
- Lisa Murkowski, U.S. senator from Alaska (2002–present)[8]
- Pete Ricketts, U.S. senator from Nebraska (2023–present)[8]
- Mike Rounds, U.S. senator from South Dakota (2015–present)[8]
Polling
[edit]Mark Robinson vs. Thom Tillis
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size[a] |
Margin of error |
Thom Tillis |
Mark Robinson |
Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Campaign Viability Research[9] | November 13–15, 2024 | 800 (LV) | N/A | 42% | 35% | 23% |
Thom Tillis vs. Generic Republican
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size[a] |
Margin of error |
Thom Tillis |
Generic Republican |
Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Campaign Viability Research[9] | November 13–15, 2024 | 800 (LV) | N/A | 31% | 36% | 33% |
Lara Trump vs. Thom Tillis
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size[a] |
Margin of error |
Thom Tillis |
Lara Trump |
Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Victory Insights[10] | November 26–29, 2024 | 800 (LV) | N/A | 11% | 65% | 25% |
Democratic primary
[edit]Candidates
[edit]Announcement pending
[edit]- Wiley Nickel, former U.S. Representative from North Carolina's 13th congressional district (2023–2025) (announcement expected in February 2025)[5]
Publicly expressed interest
[edit]- Roy Cooper, former Governor of North Carolina (2017–2025)[11]
Potential
[edit]- Jeff Jackson, North Carolina Attorney General (2025–present) and former U.S. Representative from North Carolina's 14th congressional district (2023–2024)[3]
General election
[edit]Predictions
[edit]| Source | Ranking | As of |
|---|---|---|
| Inside Elections[12] | Battleground | January 17, 2025 |
| 270toWin[13] | Tossup | January 9, 2025 |
Polling
[edit]| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size[a] |
Margin of error |
Thom Tillis |
Roy Cooper |
Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Victory Insights[10] | November 26–29, 2024 | 800 (LV) | N/A | 44% | 45% | 11% |
with Lara Trump and Roy Cooper
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size[a] |
Margin of error |
Lara Trump |
Roy Cooper |
Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Victory Insights[10] | November 26–29, 2024 | 800 (LV) | N/A | 44% | 46% | 10% |
Notes
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ Sonasundaram, Praveena (June 12, 2023). "North Carolina Republicans censure Sen. Thom Tillis after stance on LGBTQ issues". The Washington Post.
- ^ Berryman, Kim; Pellish, Aaron (June 11, 2023). "Republican Sen. Thom Tillis is censured by North Carolina GOP delegates at convention". CNN.
- ^ a b c Specht, Paul; Doran, Will (November 17, 2024). "Trump nominations put NC's Thom Tillis, the nation's 'most vulnerable' Republican senator, in the spotlight". WRAL-TV. Capitol Broadcasting Company. Retrieved November 17, 2024.
- ^ Vespa, Emily; Hui, T. Keung (January 28, 2025). "Under the Dome: Tillis challenger launches 2026 campaign; top academic officer named". The News & Observer. Retrieved January 28, 2025.
- ^ 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
- ^ Gancarski, A.G. (December 2, 2024). "Lara Trump dominates in Senate poll … but it's not in Florida". Florida Politics. Retrieved December 2, 2024.
- ^ Doran, Will (January 31, 2025). "Mark Robinson drops lawsuit against CNN, says political career may be over". WRAL-TV. Retrieved January 31, 2025.
Robinson said Friday he wouldn't run for Senate or any other office in 2026
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r Fahlberg, Audrey (December 9, 2024). "Senator Thom Tillis Will Kick Off 2026 Reelection Campaign This Week with Fundraiser". National Review.
- ^ a b "Hypothetical Robinson-Tillis 2026 Matchup: A Dogfight Waiting To Happen" (PDF). Campaign Viability Research. Campaign Viability Research.
- ^ a b c "NORTH CAROLINA POLL: LARA TRUMP, THOM TILLIS, OR ROY COOPER FOR US SENATE IN 2026?" (PDF). Victory Insights. December 2, 2024. Retrieved December 2, 2024.
- ^ Daniels, Steve (December 6, 2024). "Gov. Roy Cooper reflects on nearly 40 years in NC politics as term winds down, ponders US Senate run". WTVD. Retrieved December 6, 2024.
- ^ "Senate Ratings". Inside Elections. Retrieved January 14, 2025.
- ^ "2026 Senate Interactive Map". 270toWin. Retrieved January 22, 2025.
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