Elections
North Carolina Election Day 2026: Polls Open for Key Senate and House Races
PN Team • 1 day ago
Polls are open across North Carolina for the 2026 midterm election, with Republicans seeking to hold their U.S. House and Senate majorities and Democrats aiming to flip GOP-held seats. Voting runs from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. The marquee contest is the open Senate seat held by retiring Republican Thom Tillis, pitting Democrat Roy Cooper, who has led in pre-election polling, against Republican Michael Whatley; a Cooper win would be a significant step toward a Democratic Senate majority. The 11th Congressional District race between Democrat Jamie Ager and Republican Jennifer Balkcom, for the seat vacated by Chuck Edwards, could also help determine House control. Early voting set records statewide, and results are being tracked live as polls close.
Sources:
Sentiment
- Roy Cooper Described as leading in pre-election polling in a competitive Senate race.
- Democratic Party (United States) Democrats are portrayed as competitive, seeking to flip seats and possibly take the Senate majority.
- North Carolina Neutral factual coverage of the state's election day and record early voting.
- Republican Party (United States) Republicans are described neutrally as defending their House and Senate majorities.
- United States House of Representatives Mentioned factually as the chamber whose control could shift based on election results.
- United States Senate Referenced neutrally as the body whose majority is at stake in the election.