North Carolina · U.S. Senate · Tuesday, November 3, 2026
Where do the candidates stand on the economy and taxes?
Roy CooperDemocrat
Michael WhatleyRepublican
Part of the full North Carolina U.S. Senate comparison · Last reviewed October 19, 2026
Economy & Taxes
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
Proposes rolling back current tariffs and stricter antitrust rules on grocery pricing; opposes the 2025 One Big Beautiful Bill Act as a whole while backing some of its tax deductions.
Show the evidence (2)Hide the evidence
- Campaign proposal2026
His campaign's grocery plan calls for ending the tariffs that it says raise farmers' costs, blocking grocery and food-processing mergers that reduce competition, banning pricing algorithms that raise prices for specific customers, and making it illegal for food producers to coordinate prices. 2 sourcesLowering the Cost of Food & Groceries (opens in a new tab)Cooper for North Carolina · CampaignSafety and affordability: Why NC's U.S. Senate candidates keep hitting the same themes (opens in a new tab)WRAL · Aug. 14, 2026 · News
- Public statement
Has opposed as a whole the 2025 One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which combined income tax cuts with reductions in Medicaid, food assistance and other programs, saying nearly all of its tax-cut benefits go to corporations and the ultra-wealthy; he has said he supports its deductions for income from tips, overtime and Social Security. SourceWhatley doubles down on support for tariffs, Iran War, tax cuts (opens in a new tab)WRAL · Sept. 30, 2026 · News
- Campaign proposal2026
His campaign's grocery plan calls for ending the tariffs that it says raise farmers' costs, blocking grocery and food-processing mergers that reduce competition, banning pricing algorithms that raise prices for specific customers, and making it illegal for food producers to coordinate prices. 2 sourcesLowering the Cost of Food & Groceries (opens in a new tab)Cooper for North Carolina · CampaignSafety and affordability: Why NC's U.S. Senate candidates keep hitting the same themes (opens in a new tab)WRAL · Aug. 14, 2026 · News
- Public statement
Has opposed as a whole the 2025 One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which combined income tax cuts with reductions in Medicaid, food assistance and other programs, saying nearly all of its tax-cut benefits go to corporations and the ultra-wealthy; he has said he supports its deductions for income from tips, overtime and Social Security. SourceWhatley doubles down on support for tariffs, Iran War, tax cuts (opens in a new tab)WRAL · Sept. 30, 2026 · News
Michael Whatley
Supports tariffs, tax cuts, fewer regulations and the 2025 One Big Beautiful Bill Act, and has said tariffs will help North Carolina companies, small businesses and farmers.
Show the evidence (3)Hide the evidence
- Public statementSept. 30, 2026
Said at a September 2026 news conference in Raleigh that trade policy should include tariffs and that they will help North Carolina companies, small businesses and farmers. SourceWhatley doubles down on support for tariffs, Iran War, tax cuts (opens in a new tab)WRAL · Sept. 30, 2026 · News
- Public statementSept. 30, 2026
Said he supports cutting taxes and eliminating regulations if elected, citing tax policies that help create jobs. SourceWhatley doubles down on support for tariffs, Iran War, tax cuts (opens in a new tab)WRAL · Sept. 30, 2026 · News
- Public statement2026
Supports the 2025 One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which combined income tax cuts with reductions in Medicaid, food assistance and other programs, and has criticized Cooper for saying he would have voted against it. SourceWhatley doubles down on support for tariffs, Iran War, tax cuts (opens in a new tab)WRAL · Sept. 30, 2026 · News
- Public statementSept. 30, 2026
Said at a September 2026 news conference in Raleigh that trade policy should include tariffs and that they will help North Carolina companies, small businesses and farmers. SourceWhatley doubles down on support for tariffs, Iran War, tax cuts (opens in a new tab)WRAL · Sept. 30, 2026 · News
- Public statementSept. 30, 2026
Said he supports cutting taxes and eliminating regulations if elected, citing tax policies that help create jobs. SourceWhatley doubles down on support for tariffs, Iran War, tax cuts (opens in a new tab)WRAL · Sept. 30, 2026 · News
- Public statement2026
Supports the 2025 One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which combined income tax cuts with reductions in Medicaid, food assistance and other programs, and has criticized Cooper for saying he would have voted against it. SourceWhatley doubles down on support for tariffs, Iran War, tax cuts (opens in a new tab)WRAL · Sept. 30, 2026 · News
In their own words
Statements
Roy Cooper
Tariffs
You know, Congress can take back its constitutional authority on trade and tariffs and roll them back and help these small businesses and consumers who are getting the brunt of the cost on this.
Roy Cooper · Remarks at a campaign event at Oklawaha Brewing Co. in Hendersonville, N.C., reported by BPR News and WFAE · Aug. 20, 2026
SourceDemocratic Senate nominee Roy Cooper talks economy, Helene recovery in WNC (opens in a new tab)BPR News, via WFAE · Aug. 21, 2026 · News
Michael Whatley
Tariffs and trade
We need to have trade policies, and obviously tariffs are going to be part of that
Michael Whatley · News conference at an asphalt plant in Raleigh after the U.S. Chamber of Commerce endorsed him · Sept. 30, 2026
SourceWhatley doubles down on support for tariffs, Iran War, tax cuts (opens in a new tab)WRAL · Sept. 30, 2026 · News
Something wrong or missing? Report an error