RALEIGH — Former Gov. Roy Cooper and former Republican National Committee Chair Michael Whatley secured their party nominations during last week’s U.S. Senate primary.
Unofficially and before provisional totals were added, 824,798 Democratic votes and 625,667 Republican votes were cast in the race to replace Republican Sen. Thom Tillis.
Cooper became the Democratic nominee after winning his primary race with more than 90% of the vote.
“North Carolina, we’re officially on the road to November 3rd,” Cooper wrote in a post on X following the results. “There’s no doubt — we’ve got our work cut out for us. But North Carolinians have always given me hope and that’s what’s going to get us across the finish line.”
Cooper has pivoted to “affordability” issues in his campaign. He recently rolled out a campaign called “make stuff cost less,” which highlights “how his track record of putting party aside to get results for working people will help lower costs for North Carolina families.”
Whatley won his primary race with more than 64% of the vote.
“I’m honored to be the Republican nominee for the U.S. Senate in North Carolina,” Whatley said in an X post.
“Republicans are united. Now the real fight begins,” wrote Whatley. “This November, North Carolina voters will have a choice: Safer Communities, Secure Borders, More Jobs and Lower Costs or Roy Cooper’s failed record. Let’s win.”
Following his primary win, Whatley was endorsed by the North Carolina Troopers Association (NCTA).
Whatley accepted the endorsement during a press conference held at the Charlotte Fraternal Order of Police lodge. He announced that, if elected, he would end “soft-on-crime policies” and create a federal version of Iryna’s Law.
Iryna’s Law is named after Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska, who was murdered on Charlotte’s light rail system, allegedly by repeat offender Decarlos Brown Jr.
Leading up to the primary, Whatley primarily focused on public safety, including attacking Cooper over a “secret list” of 3,500 prisoners released during the pandemic under a settlement agreement with activist groups. Brown’s name was on the list, as were 51 prisoners with life sentences for violent crimes.
Since the list made headlines, Cooper has dodged media questions multiple times but recently gave a response to a reporter, blaming the settlement agreement on law enforcement while also pointing the finger at President Donald Trump.
The race could be one of the costliest ever for a Senate seat.
Congressional results
In congressional district primaries, nearly all the incumbents won their races outright. Seven of the eight races saw incumbents taking voting percentages in the 70% to 90% range.
The only race that remained in contention on election night was Rep. Valerie Foushee’s (D-Hillsborough) District 4. Foushee held a slim lead of 1,200 votes (0.98%) on election night over Durham Commissioner Nida Allam. On election night, Allam told The Daily Tar Heel she would request a recount since the race was under the state’s 1% recall threshold, but she later issued a concession statement.
Foushee was endorsed by both Cooper and current Gov. Josh Stein. Allam was backed by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and other progressive groups. Outside spending in the race was reported by NC Newsline as “just shy of $4.5 million.”
In the crowded Republican primary for the state’s first district, Laurie Buckhout prevailed and will face incumbent Rep. Don Davis (D-Snow Hill) in the general election. Davis’ district was redrawn last fall and is now considered a Republican-leaning seat. Buckhout ran against Davis in a tight 2024 race.
There were no primary races in District 2, and incumbent Rep. Deborah Ross (D-Raleigh) will face Republican Eugene F. Douglass and Libertarian Matthew Laszacs in the general election.
Other congressional district results
District 3: Incumbent Rep. Greg Murphy (R-Greenville) will face Democrat Raymond Smith.
District 5: Incumbent Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-Banner Elk) defeated three primary challengers and will face Democrat Chuck Hubbard.
District 6: Incumbent Rep. Addison McDowell (R-Advance) will face Democrat Cyril Jefferson, who won his three-person primary race.
District 7: Incumbent Rep. David Rouzer (R-Wilmington) easily won with more than 80% of the vote against David Buzzard.
District 8: Incumbent Rep. Mark Harris (R-Indian Trail) will face Colby Watson, who won his three-person primary.
District 9: Incumbent Rep. Richard Hudson (R-Southern Pines) will meet Democrat Richard Ojeda II, who won his primary race.
District 10: Incumbent Rep. Pat Harrigan (R-Hickory) won over his challenger Matthew Sin. He will face Ashley Bell, who was the winner in her five-person Democratic primary race.
District 11: Incumbent Rep. Chuck Edwards (R-Flat Rock) easily defeated challenger Adam Smith. Jamie Ager won the Democratic primary over the four other candidates.
District 12: Incumbent Rep. Alma Adams (D-Charlotte) defeated three primary opponents. In the Republican primary, Jack Codiga beat Addul Ali.
District 13: Incumbent Rep. Brad Knott (R-Raleigh) prevailed over Sid Sharm with nearly 90% of the vote. On the Democratic side, Paul Barringer emerged as the winner in his three-way race.
District 14: Incumbent Rep. Tim Moore (R-Kings Mountain) beat Katie Barr. Moore faces the Democratic primary winner Lakesha Womack in November.
