This combo image shows North Carolina Democratic Senate candidate former Gov. Roy Cooper, left, and Republican candidate former RNC Chairman Michael Whatley.
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This combo image shows North Carolina Democratic Senate candidate former Gov. Roy Cooper, left, and Republican candidate former RNC Chairman Michael Whatley.
Forty-three percent of likely North Carolina voters say the economy, including the cost of living, is the most important issue in deciding who they’ll vote for in the upcoming Nov. 3 general election.
That’s good news for former Gov. Roy Cooper, the Democrat running against Republican Michael Whatley for North Carolina’s U.S. Senate seat.
Cooper leads Whatley 58% to 25% among those who identify the economy and cost of living as their most important issue, according to the latest ECU Poll conducted by the university’s Center for Survey Research.
The economy question is one of several detail areas explored in the poll, conducted Aug. 31 through Sept. 3, according to the center.
Overall, the poll found Cooper leading Whatley 46% to 39%, with 14% undecided and the remainder supporting a minor-party or write-in candidate. On a forced-choice measure without an undecided option, Cooper leads Whatley 52% to 44%, with the remainder supporting a minor-party or write-in candidate.
The center said the poll’s credibility interval, which is similar to a margin of error, is plus or minus 4.4 percentage points.
Whatley and Cooper are running for a North Carolina seat currently held by Republican U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis. He is not seeking reelection.
Based on the initial measure, which retains undecided voters, Cooper’s overall lead includes an 11-point advantage among self-described independents, 45% to 34%, with roughly 17% undecided. Cooper also receives support from about 1 in 10 self-described Republicans, while support for Whatley among self-described Democrats stands at just 1%.
“To paraphrase Jim Carville’s famous line, ‘It’s still the economy, stupid,’” said Peter Francia, director of the ECU Center for Survey Research. “Two years ago, the economy was an issue that worked to the Republicans’ advantage in North Carolina. In 2026, it is working to Roy Cooper’s advantage.”
Outside of the economy, other top issues include border security and/or immigration (12%); crime and/or public safety (10%); affordability of health care (6%); and the conflict with Iran and/or other foreign policy issues (6%).
Cooper also leads Whatley among African American voters, 70% to 9%, while Whatley leads among white voters, 47% to 39%.
There is also a gender gap. Whatley holds a slim lead among men, 45% to 42%, while Cooper leads among women by 16 percentage points, 49% to 33%.
Whatley is an ally of President Donald Trump, who carried North Carolina in the 2024 presidential election. Whatley previously served as chairman of the Republican National Committee.
Voters also divide by education level and age. Among those without a four-year college degree, Whatley leads Cooper 45% to 41%. Among those with a four-year college degree or higher, Cooper leads Whatley 54% to 29%. Whatley leads among likely voters age 65 and older, 48% to 42%, while Cooper leads among those under age 65, 47% to 35%.
“The poll also shows that voters have a more clearly defined view of Cooper than of Whatley,” Francia said.
Cooper is viewed favorably by 47% and unfavorably by 40%, while 8% hold neither a favorable nor unfavorable opinion and 4% have not heard enough to offer an opinion.
Views of Whatley are more evenly divided, with 33% viewing him favorably and 34% unfavorably. At the same time, 19% hold neither a favorable nor unfavorable opinion of Whatley while 14% have not heard enough to offer an opinion.
The poll results are based on 675 completed responses to the poll’s questionnaire from North Carolina registered voters who are likely to vote in the 2026 general election. Respondents were drawn from a random sample of registered voters statewide and, for those ages 18 to 29, an opt-in panel sample to supplement the data.
About 392 people participated in the poll by cell phone via MMS-to-web text, 184 by landline phone and 99 online through the opt-in panel.
All percentages are rounded to the nearest whole number. As a result, percentage totals in some instances may be slightly higher or lower than 100%.
Ginger Livingston can be contacted at glivingston@apgenc.com and 252-329-9570.
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