Results

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At G Ratings, we conducted a statewide public opinion survey to measure electoral preferences and the political climate ahead of the 2026 U.S. Senate General Election in North Carolina.

We surveyed adults aged 18 and older residing in North Carolina who confirmed that they were registered to vote and intended to participate in the upcoming election.

In this study, we present the latest findings on voter preference for the U.S. Senate, political affiliation, the main issues facing North Carolina, and the demographic profile of respondents.

The results show Roy Cooper leading the Senate race with 52.8%, followed by Michael Whatley with 36.5%.

General Election Preference for U.S. Senate

If the 2026 general election for U.S. Senate in North Carolina were held today, respondents expressed the following voting preferences:

1. Roy Cooper: 52.8%
2. Michael Whatley: 36.5%
3. None or Undecided: 10.7%

The results indicate that Roy Cooper holds a 16.3-point advantage over Michael Whatley in the early stage of the general election contest.

Cooper surpasses the 50% threshold among respondents, while the percentage selecting none or remaining undecided represents a segment of the electorate that could still influence the development of the race.

Political Affiliation of Respondents

At G Ratings, we also measured the political affiliation of survey participants. The findings reveal a closely divided electorate, with only small differences among Democrats, Republicans, and independent or other voters.

1. Democratic affiliation: 34.5%
2. Republican affiliation: 33.1%
3. Independent or other affiliation: 32.4%

This distribution reflects a highly competitive political environment in North Carolina.

The nearly even division among the three groups highlights the importance of independent and unaffiliated voters, who may play a decisive role in determining the outcome of the 2026 U.S. Senate election.

Main Issues Facing North Carolina

We surveyed respondents about what they consider the most important issue facing North Carolina today. The results show that healthcare ranks as the leading concern, closely followed by immigration and the economy.

1. Healthcare: 17.1%
2. Immigration: 16.9%
3. Economy, jobs, inflation, and taxes: 16.2%
4. Education: 15.1%
5. Crime: 13.8%
6. Foreign policy: 10.1%
7. Something else: 4.7%
8. State of democracy: 3.5%
9. Abortion access: 2.6%

Unlike surveys in which one issue dominates by a wide margin, the results in North Carolina show voter concerns distributed across several major policy areas.

Healthcare, immigration, the economy, education, and crime all receive significant levels of attention, suggesting that the Senate race may be shaped by a broad public agenda rather than a single defining issue.

Demographic Profile of the Survey

The survey included a demographic profile across gender, age, and ethnicity.

By gender, respondents were distributed as follows:

1. Female: 52.1%
2. Male: 47.9%

By age group, respondents were distributed as follows:

1. 18–29 years: 13.7%
2. 30–39 years: 18.5%
3. 40–49 years: 14.5%
4. 50–59 years: 17.8%
5. 60–69 years: 31.3%
6. 70 years or older: 4.2%

By ethnicity, the survey recorded the following composition:

1. White or Caucasian: 71.3%
2. Black or African American: 18.5%
3. Hispanic or Latino of any race: 6.3%
4. Other or multiple races: 3.1%
5. Asian: 0.8%

Methodology

At G Ratings, we conducted this survey among 750 complete questionnaires from adults aged 18 and older residing in North Carolina.

Fieldwork was conducted between July 18 and July 23, 2026. During this period, participants confirmed that they were registered to vote and intended to participate in the upcoming election.

The study used a non-probability sample design, balanced by relevant demographic and geographic variables, including gender, age group, region, education level, and ethnicity.

This process employed Odysseus, a technological platform developed by G Ratings by GobernArte S.C., incorporating algorithmic models designed to ensure a distribution consistent with reference population parameters.

Access to Odysseus was restricted to adults aged 18 and older. Respondents were also screened to confirm their voter registration status and intention to participate in the upcoming election.

Data collection was conducted through self-administered digital questionnaires accessible on mobile devices and computers. The survey was administered in English.

Quality controls were implemented during fieldwork to validate response consistency and exclude incomplete or atypical interviews.

For a sample size of 750 questionnaires, the theoretical margin of error is estimated between ±3.5% and ±5%, assuming a 95% confidence level and simple random sampling.

Because this study uses a non-probability design, the margin of error should be interpreted as an approximate statistical reference rather than an exact estimate of total study error.

The completion rate was approximately 50%, based on eligible individuals who initiated the digital questionnaire.

North Carolina registers voters by political affiliation. G Ratings compared respondents’ self-reported party identification against official voter registration statistics published by the North Carolina State Board of Elections. Party identification and formal voter registration are distinct measures and may differ.

G Ratings adhered to current United States legislation regarding the protection, privacy, and confidentiality of personal data. All information provided by participants was treated anonymously and used exclusively for statistical research and public opinion analysis.

The methodological disclosure was prepared in accordance with the transparency principles promoted by the American Association for Public Opinion Research.

This survey was commissioned, conducted, funded, and analyzed by G Ratings, a company incorporated in the state of Florida, USA, solely for informational purposes. It was neither commissioned nor funded by any candidate, political campaign, or political party.