Cooper, Whatley Win NC Senate Primaries

Former North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper and former Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Whatley won their respective party primaries on Tuesday, securing a November matchup for the state's open U.S. Senate seat.

Cooper, a Democrat, defeated a field of challengers that included Robert Colon, Justin Dues, Daryl Farrow, Orrick Quick and Marcus Williams. The two-term governor, who served from 2017 to 2025, has held statewide office for more than three decades, including 16 years as the state's attorney general. He has never lost an election in North Carolina, outperforming Democratic presidential candidates in his gubernatorial races in 2016 and 2020.

Whatley, a Republican, prevailed over competitors including author and attorney Don Brown and conservative activist Michele Morrow. The 57-year-old attorney, who lives near Charlotte, led the North Carolina Republican Party from 2019 to 2024 before becoming RNC chairman. He has worked in the George W. Bush administration, for former Senator Elizabeth Dole and as an oil and gas lobbyist. Whatley entered the race last summer with an endorsement from President Donald Trump, who carried North Carolina in his three presidential...