{"id":2469530,"date":"2025-08-01T09:01:01","date_gmt":"2025-08-01T13:01:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/roy-cooper-kicks-off-nc-senate-race-six-points-up-over-michael-whatley\/"},"modified":"2025-08-01T09:03:53","modified_gmt":"2025-08-01T13:03:53","slug":"roy-cooper-kicks-off-nc-senate-race-six-points-up-over-michael-whatley","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/roy-cooper-kicks-off-nc-senate-race-six-points-up-over-michael-whatley\/","title":{"rendered":"Roy Cooper kicks off NC Senate race six points up over Michael Whatley"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">26<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Froy-cooper-kicks-off-nc-senate-race-six-points-up-over-michael-whatley%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2469530&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Former north Carolina Governor Roy Cooper is leading Republican National Committee chairman Michael Whatley by six points in the first major poll for the 2026 North Carolina Senate race. According to an Emerson College poll,Cooper holds 47% support compared to Whatley&#8217;s 42%,with 12% of voters undecided. Cooper has a strong lead among independent voters and enjoys significantly higher name recognition and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/trump-warns-35-wayward-republicans-after-vote-for-jan-6-commission\/\" title=\"Trump Warns 35 &#039;Wayward&#039; Republicans After Vote for Jan. 6 Commission\">favorability ratings<\/a>, while Whatley, a first-time candidate, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/miami-mayor-francis-suarez-announces-gop-presidential-bid-despite-support-for-left-wing-positions\/\" title=\"Miami Mayor Francis Suarez announces GOP presidential bid despite left-wing support.\">faces challenges due<\/a> to low name recognition and mixed favorability. The race aims to replace Senator Thom Tillis, who is retiring amid low approval ratings. Democrats view North Carolina as a key target to help flip the Senate in 2026, anticipating a highly competitive and expensive campaign ahead.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Roy Cooper kicks off North Carolina Senate race six points up over Michael Whatley<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2183561\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>Former North Carolina Gov. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/roy-cooper\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Roy Cooper\">Roy Cooper<\/a> led <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/rnc\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Republican National Committee\">Republican National Committee<\/a> chairman <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/senate-2\/3487801\/gop-unites-michael-whatley-senate-north-carolina-showdown-cooper-2026\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Michael Whatley\">Michael Whatley<\/a> by six points in the first major poll of the 2026 North Carolina Senate race.<\/p>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/emersoncollegepolling.com\/north-carolina-2026-poll-cooper-starts-us-senate-race-with-six-point-lead-and-clear-name-recognition-advantage-over-whatley\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Emerson College poll\">Emerson College poll<\/a>, obtained by <em>Politico<\/em>, showed Cooper with 47% compared to Whatley&rsquo;s 42%, with 12% unsure. Cooper has a massive lead among independents, with 47% supporting him and 28% supporting Whatley.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/presidential\/3488303\/comeback-kamala-harris-2028-presidential-dreams\/\">Comeback Kamala? Harris holds on to her presidential dreams<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/3488365\/inside-the-gop-blowup-over-brian-kemp-georgia-senate-pick\/\">Inside the GOP blowup over Brian Kemp&rsquo;s Georgia Senate pick: &lsquo;It&rsquo;s a dumpster fire&rsquo;<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/3487603\/top-takeaways-from-the-latest-fec-fundraising-reports\/\">Trump super PAC rakes in almost $200 million: Top takeaways from the latest FEC  reports<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>Part of the disconnect is a lack of name recognition for Whatley, a first-time candidate. Nearly two-thirds of voters polled didn&rsquo;t know or were unsure of Whatley, compared to just 16% for Cooper. Cooper enjoyed a majority favorability rating, while Whatley enjoyed 17% favorability and a 16% unfavorability rating.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;With over a year to go until the North Carolina U.S. Senate race, Whatley&rsquo;s low name recognition presents both a challenge and an opportunity, while only 17% view him favorably, nearly two-thirds of voters either don&rsquo;t know him or are unsure. That leaves room for his campaign to define him before his opponent does,&rdquo; Emerson College Polling executive director Spencer Kimball said in a statement. &ldquo;In contrast, Cooper enters the race with significantly higher name recognition and a more favorable public image.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Polls are likely to get closer as the <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >high-stakes matchup nears &#038;mdash<\/a>; 41.5% of voters said they&rsquo;d support the Democrat in congressional races, and 41.3% said they&rsquo;d support the Republican candidate. With the North Carolina Senate race set to be one of the most expensive of the 2026 cycle, nearly every voter will likely have an opinion about Whatley one way or another come November of next year.<\/p>\n<p>The two are competing to replace Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC), who announced he wasn&rsquo;t running for reelection amid clashes with President Donald Trump. Friday&rsquo;s poll largely vindicated his decision, giving him a paltry 30% approval rating, with 43% of voters viewing him unfavorably.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/senate-2\/3487801\/gop-unites-michael-whatley-senate-north-carolina-showdown-cooper-2026\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"GOP UNITES BEHIND WHATLEY AHEAD OF HIGH-STAKES SHOWDOWN WITH COOPER IN NORTH CAROLINA\">GOP UNITES BEHIND WHATLEY AHEAD OF HIGH-STAKES SHOWDOWN WITH COOPER IN NORTH CAROLINA<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Senator Tillis&rsquo; retirement aligns with his weak favorability: just 41% of Republican voters view him favorably, while 35% view him unfavorably. He&rsquo;s also underwater with independents, with 43% unfavorable and only 27% favorable,&rdquo; Kimball said.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Democrats view North Carolina as one of their most likely pickups in 2026. They need to flip four seats to obtain control of the Senate.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script>!function(){var g=window;g.googletag=g.googletag||{},g.googletag.cmd=g.googletag.cmd||[],g.googletag.cmd.push(function(){g.googletag.pubads().setTargeting(\"has-featured-video\",\"true\")})}();<\/script><script>var _bp=_bp||[];_bp.push({\"div\":\"Brid_2183561\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"2183561\"}});<\/script><script defer src=\"https:\/\/services.brid.tv\/player\/build\/brid.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Cooper leads Whatley by six points in NC Senate race poll<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2653,"featured_media":2469531,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/roy-cooper-2026-senate.webp","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651,538],"tags":[45165,40121,60148,47276,35541],"class_list":["post-2469530","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","category-washington-examiner","tag-election-polling","tag-michael-whatley","tag-nc-senate-race","tag-north-carolina-politics","tag-roy-cooper"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/roy-cooper-2026-senate.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2469530","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2653"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2469530"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2469530\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2469538,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2469530\/revisions\/2469538"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2469531"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2469530"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2469530"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2469530"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}