Senate 2026 · North Carolina
Race coverage
The cycle's most likely flip — the open seat left by Thom Tillis's retirement. Below: news reports and opinion columns from the North Carolina and national press that name a candidate in this race, since collection began in May 2026. A name anywhere in the text counts, so a piece need not be about the race. Pages that are not articles are left out.
Policy topics
221 pieces in this selection; the lists keep only the most recent, and repeats of the same headline are dropped — 101 below.
Cooper up big on Whatley as Trump approval sinks, WRAL/WSOC Poll shows (Will Doran/WRAL-TV)
20 Government Operations
Cooper leads Whatley by at least 7 points in new NC Senate polls (Ryan Mancini/The Hill)
20 Government Operations
Cooper leads Whatley by at least 7 points in new NC Senate polls
20 Government Operations
Trump evokes Willie Horton to take down Roy Cooper, boost Michael Whatley in N.C. Senate race
20 Government Operations
U.S. Senate balance of power falls to Ohio, several key states
20 Government Operations
Democrats see opening in NC as Whatley campaign pauses ads • NC Newsline
20 Government Operations
Michael Whatley’s Campaign Pulls TV Ads While They Rethink Strategy
20 Government Operations
Tillis backs Whatley in North Carolina Senate race
20 Government Operations
How a 1964 ad shaped today’s television political attacks • Asheville Watchdog
20 Government Operations
Where’s Sarah Stevens?
20 Government Operations
A sad song for Whatley…
20 Government Operations
Trump says he's 'worried' about Whatley in North Carolina
20 Government Operations
Republican super PAC pauses spending in North Carolina’s key US Senate race • NC Newsline
20 Government Operations
National Dems expand US House battlefield, targeting Knott in NC-13 • NC Newsline
20 Government Operations
Fact-check: Republicans claim Cooper was in New York when Helene hit North Carolina
20 Government Operations
Senate candidate Michael Whatley accepted $27,000 from data center developer
15 Banking, finance and commerce
Mitch Kokai: Most NC voters think Cooper would back DSA policies - Salisbury Post
20 Government Operations
Trail mix: Nuggets from the 2026 midterms • Asheville Watchdog
20 Government Operations
Panel Probing Cooper Prison Settlement Goes Quiet
12 Law and Crime
Motivated older voters could shape NC’s 2026 US Senate race, poll finds • NC Newsline
20 Government Operations
Cooper holds 11-point lead over Whatley in North Carolina Senate race: Poll
20 Government Operations
Headwinds beyond their control - Salisbury Post
20 Government Operations
6 texts, 5 calls, 38 mins: Records reveal Michael Whatley's work as Helene 'recovery czar'
15 Banking, finance and commerce
Michael Whatley Sticks by Trump
20 Government Operations
Trump tells North Carolina crowd he may withhold FEMA aid if Michael Whatley loses
15 Banking, finance and commerce
Filling the gaps after Helene. Volunteer groups have stepped up across the NC mountains over last 2 years.
15 Banking, finance and commerce
Vice President JD Vance to speak at midterm rally in Greensboro
20 Government Operations
Michael Whatley, Laurie Buckhout endorsed by twice-convicted sex offender
20 Government Operations
What the Censure of a GOP Leader Says About Michael Whatley
20 Government Operations
3 things happening in NC: Trump rallies with Michael Whatley following troubling AP report
20 Government Operations
Convicted sex offender offered opening prayer at Michael Whatley rally
20 Government Operations
In Goldsboro, Roy Cooper highlights cost of living crisis
20 Government Operations
Cash Michaels: What lies from Michael Whatley - Salisbury Post
20 Government Operations
NC father says anti-Cooper political ad exploited his son’s killing
20 Government Operations
Three Races to Watch in Roy Cooper’s Backyard
20 Government Operations
U.S. Senate Candidates Could Skip Debating for First Time in Almost 30 Years
20 Government Operations
Pink-slime journalism comes to North Carolina’s Senate race • Asheville Watchdog
20 Government Operations
Popular Information - Salisbury Post
20 Government Operations
Political parties see high stakes in NC Supreme Court election
20 Government Operations
Where Cooper and Whatley stand on rising costs and other issues
20 Government Operations
Opinion: The grotesque indifference of Senate candidate Michael Whatley's latest attack
20 Government Operations
Republicans search for a replacement nominee for Congress in Western NC
20 Government Operations
Republicans say they warned NC GOP leaders for years about convicted sex offender's party roles
20 Government Operations
My Turn: Econ 101 - Salisbury Post
1 Macroeconomics
Senate hopeful talks FEMA, economy, Iran during CG visit - Salisbury Post
20 Government Operations
‘Recovery Czar’ Michael Whatley caught on audio wanting to end FEMA as Western NC is owed billions
15 Banking, finance and commerce
The Politics of a Prison-Release Settlement
12 Law and Crime
Berger-Page Election Fight Cost $13.6 Million
20 Government Operations
The Billion-Dollar Election That Hasn’t Happened
20 Government Operations
Republican officials bar another North Carolina reporter from Michael Whatley event
20 Government Operations
Floyd Prophet: A big tent circus - Salisbury Post
20 Government Operations
Trump is dragging NC Republicans underwater, poll shows
20 Government Operations
Here's what 'closing the chapter' on FEMA would mean for North Carolina disasters
15 Banking, finance and commerce
North Carolina truckers, drivers feel pain of Iran war gas hikes
10 Transportation
Group tags are dictionary matches over each headline and the opening of the article — the same term families as the social-group set. Articles naming no group carry none.