2026 North Carolina elections

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2026 North Carolina elections
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The 2026 North Carolina elections will be held in the state of North Carolina on November 3, 2026, alongside the nationwide midterm elections. Elections will be held for a U.S. Senate seat as well as all 14 of the state's U.S. House of Representatives seats, all seats in the North Carolina Senate and House of Representatives, as well as judicial and local elections. Primary elections will be held on March 3, 2026, and runoff elections will be held on May 12. [1]

Contents

A swing state, North Carolina frequently votes for both Republicans and Democrats statewide. [2] [3] Democrats have controlled the governorship since 2017. [4] Partisan control of the Council of State is divided, with Democrats controlling the offices of Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of State, and Superintendent of Public Instruction, and Republicans controlling the offices of Auditor, Commissioner of Agriculture, Commissioner of Labor, and Commissioner of Insurance. [5] Democrats have not won a statewide federal election in North Carolina since 2008, when Barack Obama narrowly carried the state over John McCain and Kay Hagan unseated Elizabeth Dole in the U.S. Senate. [6]

In 2024, North Carolina saw mixed election results. Donald Trump carried the state over Kamala Harris by 3.2%. [7] Following redistricting, Republicans picked up three Democratic-held seats in the United States House of Representatives. [8] In the race for governor, Democratic attorney general Josh Stein defeated Lieutenant Governor Mark Robinson in a landslide. [9] [10] Democrats flipped control of the Lieutenant Governor and Superintendent of Public Instruction offices, and Republicans flipped control of the State Auditor's office. [5]

United States Senate

Incumbent Republican senator Thom Tillis, who was re-elected in 2020, is retiring. [11]

Former Democratic governor Roy Cooper is running for the Democratic nomination. [12] Former Democratic representative Wiley Nickel originally announced he was running for the Democratic nomination, but withdrew in July 2025. [13] Former Republican National Committee chairman Michael Whatley and attorney Don Brown are running for the Republican nomination. [14] [15]

United States House of Representatives

All 14 of North Carolina's seats in the United States House of Representatives are up for election in 2026. [16]

Ten seats are currently held by Republicans, and four are held by Democrats. [16]

State legislative

State House of Representatives

All 120 seats in the North Carolina House of Representatives are up for election in 2026. North Carolina state representatives serve two year terms, with the last election being in 2024. [17]

Republicans currently hold 71 seats in the State House, one seat short of a supermajority, and Democrats hold 49 seats following the 2024 elections. [18]

State Senate

All 50 seats in the North Carolina Senate are up for election in 2026. North Carolina state senators serve two year terms. [19]

Judicial elections

One seat on the North Carolina Supreme Court and three seats on the North Carolina Court of Appeals are up for election in 2026. [20] [21] Supreme Court justices serve eight year terms. [22]

Incumbent Democratic Supreme Court justice Anita Earls is running for re-election to the North Carolina Supreme Court. [20] She is being challenged by Republican state representative Sarah Stevens. [23]

Ballot measures

One statewide ballot measure is scheduled to be on the November 2026 ballot. Senate Bill 921 was passed by the North Carolina Legislature in December 2024 and would require voters to provide photo identification regardless of the method in which they intend to vote. [24] As it amends the North Carolina Constitution, it will require at least 50% of North Carolina voters to approve of the measure for it to become law. [25]

References

  1. ↑ "2026 State Primary Election Dates". National Conference of State Legislatures. September 26, 2025. Retrieved September 28, 2025.
  2. ↑ Domonoske, Camila (November 5, 2024). "Is Florida a swing state? Not in 2024. Here are the states to watch". NPR. Retrieved September 29, 2025.
  3. ↑ "The 8 states where 2020 will be won or lost: A POLITICO deep dive". POLITICO. September 8, 2020. Retrieved September 29, 2025.
  4. ↑ Bowman, Bridget (July 23, 2025). "Former Gov. Roy Cooper plans to enter North Carolina Senate race". NBC News. Retrieved September 29, 2025.
  5. 1 2 Zhu, Christine (November 7, 2024). "Here's a look at the new North Carolina Council of State". NC Newsline. Retrieved September 29, 2025.
  6. ↑ Bacharier, Galen (November 5, 2024). "AP: Trump wins North Carolina". NC Newsline. Retrieved September 29, 2025.
  7. ↑ Moore, Elena (November 5, 2024). "Trump wins North Carolina in sharp blow to Harris campaign". NPR. Retrieved September 29, 2025.
  8. ↑ Zhu, Christine (November 11, 2024). "Meet the North Carolina members of the U.S. House". NC Newsline. Retrieved September 29, 2025.
  9. ↑ Chidi, George (November 5, 2024). "Josh Stein beats Mark Robinson in North Carolina governor's race". The Guardian. Retrieved September 29, 2025.
  10. ↑ Robertson, Gary (November 6, 2024). "North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein is elected as the state's governor". Associated Press. Retrieved September 29, 2025.
  11. ↑ Kapur, Sahil; Thorp V, Frank; Zanona, Melanie; Hillyard, Vaughn (June 29, 2025). "GOP Sen. Thom Tillis won't seek re-election in North Carolina after drawing Trump's ire". NBC News. Retrieved September 28, 2025.
  12. ↑ Robertson, Gary (July 28, 2025). "Former North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper to make Senate 2026 run". Associated Press . Retrieved September 28, 2025.
  13. ↑ Perchick, Michael (July 25, 2025). "Democrat Wiley Nickel to suspend US Senate campaign, will endorse Roy Cooper, sources say". ABC 11. Durham, North Carolina. Retrieved September 28, 2025.
  14. ↑ Gans, Jared (July 31, 2025). "Whatley, Trump-backed, enters North Carolina Senate Race". The Hill. Retrieved September 28, 2025.
  15. ↑ Bacharier, Galan (June 29, 2025). "North Carolina's U.S. Senate race is open. Who's running, who's not and who could jump in". NC Newsline. Retrieved September 28, 2025.
  16. 1 2 Robertson, Gary (June 16, 2025). "Redistricting trial begins in North Carolina over allegations that GOP-enacted maps erode Black voting power". Associated Press. Retrieved September 28, 2025– via PBS News.
  17. ↑ "House - North Carolina General Assembly". North Carolina General Assembly. Retrieved September 28, 2025.
  18. ↑ Larson, Ren (November 6, 2024). "Democrats Narrowly Break the GOP Supermajority in Legislature". The Assembly. Retrieved September 28, 2025.
  19. ↑ "Senate - North Carolina General Assembly". North Carolina General Assembly. Retrieved September 28, 2025.
  20. 1 2 Ingram, Kyle (May 31, 2025). "Justice Anita Earls kicks off 2026 NC Supreme Court campaign" . The News & Observer. Retrieved September 28, 2025.
  21. ↑ Bailly, Sophia (July 11, 2025). "Democratic candidates running for NC Court of Appeals" . Raleigh News & Observer. Retrieved September 28, 2025.
  22. ↑ "Supreme Court | North Carolina Judicial Branch". North Carolina Judicial Branch. Retrieved September 28, 2025.
  23. ↑ "North Carolina state Rep. Sarah Stevens to run for Supreme Court". Associated Press . Mount Airy, North Carolina. April 30, 2025. Retrieved September 28, 2025.
  24. ↑ "Senate Bill 921 / SL 2024-58 (2023-2024 Session)". North Carolina General Assembly. Retrieved September 28, 2025.
  25. ↑ Gleason, Sarah (December 11, 2024). "What is the photo ID-related constitutional amendment?" . StarNews Online. Retrieved September 28, 2025.
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