For related races, see 2026 United States Senate elections.
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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 bipartisan support on gun control and same-sex marriage.
Republicans have won every U.S. Senate election in North Carolina since 2010.
Background
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
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.
Candidates
Declared
- Thom Tillis, incumbent U.S. Senator (2015–present)
Potential
- Michele Morrow, nurse and nominee for Superintendent of Public Instruction in 2024
- Lara Trump, co-chair of the Republican National Committee (2024–present) and daughter-in-law of president Donald Trump
Declined
- Mark Robinson, outgoing Lieutenant Governor of North Carolina (2021–present) and nominee for governor in 2024
Endorsements
Thom TillisU.S. senators
- John Barrasso, U.S. senator from Wyoming (2007–present)
- Marsha Blackburn, U.S. senator from Tennessee (2019–present)
- John Boozman, U.S. senator from Arkansas (2011–present)
- Ted Budd, U.S. senator from North Carolina (2023–present)
- Shelley Moore Capito, U.S. senator from West Virginia (2015–present)
- Bill Cassidy, U.S. senator from Louisiana (2015–present)
- Mike Crapo, U.S. senator from Idaho (1999–present)
- Tom Cotton, U.S. senator from Arkansas (2015–present)
- Steve Daines, U.S. senator from Montana (2015–present)
- Joni Ernst, U.S. senator from Iowa (2015–present)
- Deb Fischer, U.S. senator from Nebraska (2013–present)
- Chuck Grassley, U.S. senator from Iowa (1980–present)
- Jim Lankford, U.S. senator from Oklahoma (2015–present)
- Cynthia Lummis, U.S. senator from Wyoming (2021–present)
- Markwayne Mullin, U.S. senator from Oklahoma (2023–present)
- Lisa Murkowski, U.S. senator from Alaska (2002–present)
- Pete Ricketts, U.S. senator from Nebraska (2023–present)
- Mike Rounds, U.S. senator from South Dakota (2015–present)
Polling
Hypothetical pollingMark Robinson vs. Thom Tillis
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size |
Margin of error |
Mark Robinson |
Thom Tillis |
Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Campaign Viability Research | November 13–15, 2024 | 800 (LV) | N/A | 35% | 42% | 23% |
Thom Tillis vs. Generic Republican
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size |
Margin of error |
Thom Tillis |
Generic Republican |
Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Campaign Viability Research | November 13–15, 2024 | 800 (LV) | N/A | 31% | 36% | 33% |
Lara Trump vs. Thom Tillis
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size |
Margin of error |
Thom Tillis |
Lara Trump |
Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Victory Insights | November 26–29, 2024 | 800 (LV) | N/A | 11% | 65% | 25% |
Democratic primary
Candidates
Announcement pending
- Wiley Nickel, outgoing U.S. Representative from North Carolina's 13th congressional district (2023–present) (announcement expected in February 2025)
Publicly expressed interest
- Roy Cooper, outgoing Governor of North Carolina (2017–present)
Potential
- Jeff Jackson, North Carolina Attorney General-elect and outgoing U.S. Representative from North Carolina's 14th congressional district (2023–present)
General election
Polling
Hypothetical polling| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size |
Margin of error |
Roy Cooper |
Thom Tillis |
Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Victory Insights | November 26–29, 2024 | 800 (LV) | N/A | 45% | 44% | 11% |
with Lara Trump and Roy Cooper
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size |
Margin of error |
Roy Cooper |
Lara Trump |
Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Victory Insights | November 26–29, 2024 | 800 (LV) | N/A | 46% | 44% | 10% |
Notes
References
- 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- Murphy, Brian (November 20, 2024). "Mark Robinson says another run for political office is 'not on my radar at all'". WRAL-TV. Retrieved November 20, 2024.
- ^ Fahlberg, Audrey (December 9, 2024). "Senator Thom Tillis Will Kick Off 2026 Reelection Campaign This Week with Fundraiser". National Review.
- ^ "Hypothetical Robinson-Tillis 2026 Matchup: A Dogfight Waiting To Happen" (PDF). Campaign Viability Research. Campaign Viability Research.
- ^ "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.
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