Former North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper led an unofficial U.S. Senate vote count following separate projections of his victory, putting Democrats on course to gain a Republican-held seat before North Carolina certifies the result.
Decision Desk HQ projected Cooper’s victory in the Nov. 3 election, as did CBS News. In a tally recorded at 2:32 a.m. EST Nov. 4, Decision Desk HQ put Cooper at 2,462,440 votes, or 58.67%. Republican Michael Whatley had 1,640,368 votes, or 39.09%.
The race was for the seat held by Republican Sen. Thom Tillis, who announced in June 2025 that he would not seek reelection. If certified, Cooper would be the first Democrat elected to a North Carolina U.S. Senate seat since 2008. EconoTimes reported the projected Democratic pickup earlier.
Cooper’s campaign focused on household costs. His grocery plan proposed relief from tariffs it says raise farmers’ costs, stronger competition enforcement in grocery and food-processing markets, and limits on algorithms that set prices for individual shoppers. Those proposals have not been enacted.
The North Carolina State Board of Elections says election-night totals can change as election officials review ballots. County boards are scheduled to canvass the vote at 11 a.m. EST Nov. 13, and the state canvass is scheduled for Nov. 24.
