| Election Name: | 2026 United States Senate election in North Carolina |
| Country: | North Carolina |
| Type: | presidential |
| Ongoing: | yes |
| Previous Election: | 2020 United States Senate election in North Carolina |
| Previous Year: | 2020 |
| Next Election: | 2032 United States Senate election in North Carolina |
| Next Year: | 2032 |
| Election Date: | November 3, 2026 |
| Party1: | Republican Party (United States) |
| Party2: | Democratic Party (United States) |
| U.S. senator | |
| Before Election: | Thom Tillis |
| Before Party: | Republican Party (United States) |
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 in 2020 with 48.7% of the vote against former State Senator Cal Cunningham. On June 10, 2023, the North Carolina Republican Party had censured Tillis over his bipartisan support on gun control and same-sex marriage.[1] Outgoing governor Roy Cooper, who is term-limited as governor in 2024, is considered a potential Democratic candidate. On July 30, 2024, NBC reported that Cooper is planning to run for the Senate seat.
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.
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]
with Thom Tillis and Generic Republican
with Lara Trump and Thom Tillis
Democrats have not won a United States Senate seat in North Carolina seat since 2008.
with Lara Trump and Roy Cooper