North Carolina · U.S. Senate · Tuesday, November 3, 2026
Where do the candidates stand on government and democracy?
Roy CooperDemocrat
Michael WhatleyRepublican
Part of the full North Carolina U.S. Senate comparison · Last reviewed October 19, 2026
Government & Democracy
Each position is labeled by what it rests on: a campaign proposal, a public statement, a past action such as a vote or lawsuit, or an enacted policy. Where nothing is documented, the page says so.
Documented positions
Roy Cooper
His campaign says voting is a fundamental right and that making voting harder is wrong; he supports banning stock trading by members of Congress and the executive branch.
Show the evidence (2)Hide the evidence
- Public statementSept. 11, 2026
His campaign told PolitiFact that he believes voting is a fundamental right and that efforts that make it harder to vote are wrong. SourceFact-check: Cooper says NC officials 'removed' an HBCU early-voting site ahead of midterm elections (opens in a new tab)PolitiFact, via WRAL · Sept. 11, 2026 · News
- Public statementOct. 10, 2026
Supports a ban on stock trading for Congress and the executive branch, and said he would not own or trade individual stocks whether or not a ban passes. SourceWe asked four candidates for NC's Senate seat what they'd do if they win (opens in a new tab)The News & Observer, via Yahoo News · Oct. 10, 2026 · Candidate questionnaire
- Public statementSept. 11, 2026
His campaign told PolitiFact that he believes voting is a fundamental right and that efforts that make it harder to vote are wrong. SourceFact-check: Cooper says NC officials 'removed' an HBCU early-voting site ahead of midterm elections (opens in a new tab)PolitiFact, via WRAL · Sept. 11, 2026 · News
- Public statementOct. 10, 2026
Supports a ban on stock trading for Congress and the executive branch, and said he would not own or trade individual stocks whether or not a ban passes. SourceWe asked four candidates for NC's Senate seat what they'd do if they win (opens in a new tab)The News & Observer, via Yahoo News · Oct. 10, 2026 · Candidate questionnaire
Michael Whatley
The RNC, which he chaired, sued the state elections board in 2024 over registrations lacking required ID numbers; his campaign says he supports blind trusts for elected officials.
Show the evidence (3)Hide the evidence
- Past actionAug. 2024
In August 2024 the RNC, which he chaired, and the N.C. Republican Party sued the State Board of Elections over about 225,000 registration records that, the suit said, lacked a driver's license number or the last four digits of a Social Security number; the dispute ended in February 2026 with a court-approved settlement. 2 sourcesNCSBE faces second lawsuit from Republicans over alleged HAVA violations (opens in a new tab)Carolina Journal · Aug. 27, 2024 · NewsJudge approves RNC, DNC, elections board deal ending registration case (opens in a new tab)Carolina Journal · Feb. 20, 2026 · News
- Public statementAug. 2024
Said in announcing the suit that the board had “once again failed in its mandate to keep non-citizens off the voter rolls” and that “only Americans decide American elections.” SourceNCSBE faces second lawsuit from Republicans over alleged HAVA violations (opens in a new tab)Carolina Journal · Aug. 27, 2024 · News
- Public statementAug. 14, 2026
A campaign spokesperson said in August 2026 that he "supports commonsense reforms requiring elected officials to place their assets in qualified blind trusts, ensuring they have no control over how those assets are invested." SourceWhatley's lobbying work not featured on campaign website (opens in a new tab)Spectrum News 1 · Aug. 14, 2026 · News
- Past actionAug. 2024
In August 2024 the RNC, which he chaired, and the N.C. Republican Party sued the State Board of Elections over about 225,000 registration records that, the suit said, lacked a driver's license number or the last four digits of a Social Security number; the dispute ended in February 2026 with a court-approved settlement. 2 sourcesNCSBE faces second lawsuit from Republicans over alleged HAVA violations (opens in a new tab)Carolina Journal · Aug. 27, 2024 · NewsJudge approves RNC, DNC, elections board deal ending registration case (opens in a new tab)Carolina Journal · Feb. 20, 2026 · News
- Public statementAug. 2024
Said in announcing the suit that the board had “once again failed in its mandate to keep non-citizens off the voter rolls” and that “only Americans decide American elections.” SourceNCSBE faces second lawsuit from Republicans over alleged HAVA violations (opens in a new tab)Carolina Journal · Aug. 27, 2024 · News
- Public statementAug. 14, 2026
A campaign spokesperson said in August 2026 that he "supports commonsense reforms requiring elected officials to place their assets in qualified blind trusts, ensuring they have no control over how those assets are invested." SourceWhatley's lobbying work not featured on campaign website (opens in a new tab)Spectrum News 1 · Aug. 14, 2026 · News
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