Cooper holds 11-point lead over Whatley in North Carolina Senate race: Poll

The Hill ^ | 09/28/26 | Tara Suter

[MinorityRepublican]

Former North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper (D) has a double-digit lead over his competitor, former Republican National Committee (RNC) Chair Michael Whatley, in his state’s Senate race, according to a new poll.

In the AARP poll, released Monday, 53 percent of respondents said they would “definitely” or “probably” back Cooper or leaned toward doing so in the case the election happened that day, while 42 percent said the same of Whatley. One percent backed “someone else,” and 5 percent were unsure about their candidate of choice.

The poll comes amid a problematic electoral environment for Republicans, with slumping approval ratings for President Trump, widespread concerns about the cost of living, the unpopular Iran war and other factors creating hurdles for the GOP as the midterms near.

According to a polling average from Decision Desk HQ, Trump’s approval rating was sitting at 38.8 percent as of Sunday evening, while his disapproval rating was at 59.6 percent.

Earlier this month, Trump made a campaign stop in North Carolina to rally for Whatley, with Republicans keen to hold onto the Senate seat.

Trump has secured North Carolina in his three runs for the presidency, with the president telling the crowd in Gastonia, N.C., at the time that Whatley helped him get those wins.

“We won those record-setting victories with the help of a man named Michael Whatley,” Trump said in mid-September. “He was incredible.”

Trump then praised Whatley for his time heading up the RNC with his daughter-in-law Lara Trump.

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TOPICS: Politics/Elections; US: North Carolina
KEYWORDS: aarp; michaelwhatley; midtermtroll; minorityrino; moronityreprobate; multiplefrnicks; northcarolina; roycooper

[NCDragon]

A poll coming from AARP? Yeah, I’m gonna trust that bit of DNC propagana...NOT! :)

[Right_Wing_Madman]

You've been posting this garbage non-stop from bad sources for over a month now.

Because you jerk off to this stuff every day, don't assume everyone else does.

[bwest]

Whatley was a terrible choice.

[Jim Noble]

Cooper was elected the minute he declared.

If you’re worried about this, send money to John Sununu in NH who just may possibly flip a seat from D to R, assuming no more combat in the Persian Gulf.

[Fai Mao]

“Whatley was a terrible choice.”

It doesn’t matter. The WORST Republican is better than the BEST Democrat.

[Taxman]

North Carolinians know better than to elect that Democrat, don’t they?

[KC_Conspirator]

Its not going to be close.

[Dan in Wichita]

FWIW, a few days ago Whatley said he was down 11 percent a few weeks ago in some poll (he didn't say which one) but recently the same poll showed him down just four percent. According to him, he has almost closed the gap (which is what we should expect him to say regardless)

AARP is a leftwing organization and anything they have to say about politics should be questioned.

[No name given]

That’s true.

[Westbrook]

How is this possible?

Rush was right about Low Info Voters, but this is insane.

[TexasFreeper2009]

simply look at the amount due when filling your car with gas, or when buying groceries.

It is as simple as that.

As Bill Clinton used to say... “it’s the economy stupid”

[Bob Wills is still the king]

“You’ve been posting this garbage non-stop from bad sources for over a month now.

Because you jerk off to this stuff every day, don’t assume everyone else does.”
____________________________________________________________

How about the FReeper APproved Rasmussen Poll?

https://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/elections/election_2026/election_2026_north_carolina_senate

[Zathras]

So DungHill....how is that MN senate race going?

[Right_Wing_Madman]

How about the FReeper APproved Rasmussen Poll?

I predict you and the OP will be a little disappointed by the midterm results. Democrats won't fare as well as you hope.

I remember your meltdown after Cornyn lost to Paxton in the Texas primary. That wasn't supposed to happen either.

[SunkenCiv]

• 'Trash Poll': Republican Senate Candidate Tells Reporter, 'You Guys Need a Better Pollster' [09/26/2026]
• Cooper maintains lead over Whatley as pocketbook issues dominate NC's critical US Senate race [09/12/2026]
• Judge Tosses Trump Lawsuit Over Wildly Misleading 2024 Poll: 'Erroneous Statements Are Inevitable' [09/24/2026]
• Trafalgar Senate polls, September 2026 [09/18/2026]

[gibsonguy]

The rats are convinced there is going to be a blue avalanche. A 2/3 majority in the House kind of avalanche. I don’t believe they are going to have the great day they think they are going to have and If they don’t get the House they will riot.

[beef]

Whatley is a terrible choice, but I will still vote for him. And Cooper will be our next senator. That is just the way it is.

[HamiltonJay]

Cooper almost certainly will win, but it’s not going to be by 11 points These polls are laughable at this point

[qam1]

How many commercials has Whatley run showing Irina was killed because some Liberal judge appointed by Democrats let her killer out?

Zero

I guess it’s better to be a gracious loser than have the Democrat call him a racist.