State significance

The North Carolina Senate race is expected to become one of the most expensive races on the map this year as Republicans aim to protect their majority in the Senate and Democrats hope to flip several seats.

On the Democratic side of the Senate race, Democrats view the seat as one of their best pickup opportunities in the Senate this year.

Cooper has won every election he has ever run in the state since 1986 and was elected statewide as governor in both 2016 and 2020 -- years that Donald Trump won North Carolina. Cooper did not run for reelection in 2024 due to term limits.

\"PHOTO:
Logan Cyrus/AFP via Getty Images
PHOTO: Law enforcement stand guard outside of the state capitol building in downtown Raleigh, N.C., Jan. 17, 2021.
>

Though Whatley does not have the same level of name recognition in North Carolina as the former governor, he was endorsed by President Donald Trump.

They'll face off to replace Republican Sen. Thom Tillis, who announced in June that he would not run for a third term.

North Carolina's 2026 primary is the first election under the state's new congressional map, which was redrawn in October as part of the nationwide Republican-led redistricting push. The new map takes aim at flipping North Carolina's previously competitive 1st Congressional District, which is currently represented by Democratic Rep. Don Davis. 

","canonicalUrl":"https://abcnews.com/Politics/north-carolina-2026-live-primary-election-results/story?id=130504153","legacySlug":"/news/story/north-carolina-2026-live-primary-election-results-130504153","noIndexNoFollow":false},"publishTime":"03:15","publishDate":"03-04-2026","updatedTime":"03:16","updatedDate":"03-04-2026","socialImage":{"alt":"Democratic candidate, former Gov. Roy Cooper and Republican candidate, former Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Whatley.","credit":"AP","ratio":"16x9","url":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/US/cooper-whatley-ap-gmh-260303_1772589435190_hpMain_16x9_1600.jpg","width":992,"height":558},"datePublished":"3/4/2026 03:15:46 GMT","video":{"live":false,"id":130504153,"headline":"North Carolina 2026 live primary election results","mediaAssetTitle":"PRIMARY ELECTION RESULTS: NORTH CAROLINA","description":".They'll face off to fill the seat of retiring Republican Sen. Thom Tillis.","duration":"4:15","posterImg":{"url":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/default-img-undefined.png","width":608,"height":342},"video":{"feed":"https://service-pkgabcnews.akamaized.net/opp/hls/abcnews/2026/03/260303_abcnl_prime_nc_new_races_,500,800,1200,1800,2500,3200,4500,.mp4.csmil/playlist.m3u8"},"playlist":["135812210","135707633","135382432"]},"relatedItems":[{"contentType":"video","date":"August 20, 2026","headline":"Fantasy football players serving their time for coming in last place","section":"News","slug":"/video/135812210","id":"135812210","image":{"alt":"With millions of fantasy football leagues around the world, the quest to generate the most unique and hilarious last place punishment has become an annual internet tradition.","credit":"ABCNews.com","ratio":"1x1","url":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/football_fantasy_gmafl_260820_hpMain_1x1_608.jpg","width":384,"height":384},"images":{"alt":"With millions of fantasy football leagues around the world, the quest to generate the most unique and hilarious last place punishment has become an annual internet tradition.","credit":"ABCNews.com","crops":[{"16x9":{"small":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/football_fantasy_gmafl_260820_hpMain_16x9_608.jpg","medium":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/football_fantasy_gmafl_260820_hpMain_16x9_992.jpg","large":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/football_fantasy_gmafl_260820_hpMain_16x9_1600.jpg"}},{"9x16":{"small":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/football_fantasy_gmafl_260820_hpMain_9x16_608.jpg","medium":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/football_fantasy_gmafl_260820_hpMain_9x16_992.jpg","large":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/football_fantasy_gmafl_260820_hpMain_16x9_1600.jpg"}},{"1x1":{"small":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/football_fantasy_gmafl_260820_hpMain_1x1_608.jpg","medium":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/football_fantasy_gmafl_260820_hpMain_1x1_992.jpg","large":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/football_fantasy_gmafl_260820_hpMain_1x1_1600.jpg"}}]}},{"contentType":"video","date":"August 17, 2026","headline":"'Dance Dance Revolution' ignites sibling rivalry","section":"News","slug":"/video/135707633","id":"135707633","image":{"alt":"Millions on social media turned to watch a sibling rivalry take center stage in a Dance Dance Revolution battle.","credit":"ABCNews.com","ratio":"1x1","url":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/dance_danny_gmafl_260817_hpMain_1x1_608.jpg","width":384,"height":384},"images":{"alt":"Millions on social media turned to watch a sibling rivalry take center stage in a Dance Dance Revolution battle.","credit":"ABCNews.com","crops":[{"16x9":{"small":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/dance_danny_gmafl_260817_hpMain_16x9_608.jpg","medium":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/dance_danny_gmafl_260817_hpMain_16x9_992.jpg","large":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/dance_danny_gmafl_260817_hpMain_16x9_1600.jpg"}},{"9x16":{"small":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/dance_danny_gmafl_260817_hpMain_9x16_608.jpg","medium":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/dance_danny_gmafl_260817_hpMain_9x16_992.jpg","large":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/dance_danny_gmafl_260817_hpMain_16x9_1600.jpg"}},{"1x1":{"small":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/dance_danny_gmafl_260817_hpMain_1x1_608.jpg","medium":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/dance_danny_gmafl_260817_hpMain_1x1_992.jpg","large":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/dance_danny_gmafl_260817_hpMain_1x1_1600.jpg"}}]}},{"contentType":"video","date":"August 5, 2026","headline":"New Jersey sues Amazon","section":"News","slug":"/video/135382432","id":"135382432","image":{"alt":"VIDEO: New Jersey sues Amazon","credit":"ABCNews.com","ratio":"1x1","url":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260805_gma_norwood2_hpMain_1x1_608.jpg","width":384,"height":384},"images":{"alt":"VIDEO: New Jersey sues Amazon","credit":"ABCNews.com","crops":[{"16x9":{"small":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260805_gma_norwood2_hpMain_16x9_608.jpg","medium":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260805_gma_norwood2_hpMain_16x9_992.jpg","large":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260805_gma_norwood2_hpMain_16x9_1600.jpg"}},{"9x16":{"small":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260805_gma_norwood2_hpMain_9x16_608.jpg","medium":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260805_gma_norwood2_hpMain_9x16_992.jpg","large":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260805_gma_norwood2_hpMain_16x9_1600.jpg"}},{"1x1":{"small":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260805_gma_norwood2_hpMain_1x1_608.jpg","medium":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260805_gma_norwood2_hpMain_1x1_992.jpg","large":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260805_gma_norwood2_hpMain_1x1_1600.jpg"}}]}}],"relatedContentSection":"news","schemaContent":{"name":"North Carolina 2026 live primary election results","description":".They'll face off to fill the seat of retiring Republican Sen. Thom Tillis.","duration":"4:15","uploadDate":"03-04-2026","publication":"03-04-2026","images":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/default-img-undefined.png","url":"https://service-pkgabcnews.akamaized.net/opp/hls/abcnews/2026/03/260303_abcnl_prime_nc_new_races_,500,800,1200,1800,2500,3200,4500,.mp4.csmil/playlist.m3u8","contentUrl":"https://service-pkgabcnews.akamaized.net/opp/hls/abcnews/2026/03/260303_abcnl_prime_nc_new_races_,500,800,1200,1800,2500,3200,4500,.mp4.csmil/playlist.m3u8","link":"https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/news/story/north-carolina-2026-live-primary-election-results-130504153"}},"playlist":[{"id":"135940652","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"135916584","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"135835493","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"135803895","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"135768595","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"135739178","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"135734125","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"135706030","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"135592333","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"135619397","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"135617187","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"135574939","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"135591318","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"135555293","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"135548166","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"135545791","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"135521103","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"135515317","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"135453822","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"135450294","contentType":"story","section":"news"}],"kvps":{"pgtyp":"article","lang":"en","sp":"goodmorningamerica","programmatic":"true","bundleId":"com.abcnews"}},"analytics":{"accountID":"wdgnewwdgnewgmaweb","ns":"gma","pageName":"gma:news:video","pageType":"video","globalSpecVersion":"v1.08","siteDifferentiator":"gma:site","tagID":"g_page01","userABCookie":"0","section":"news","title":"North Carolina 2026 live primary election results","pubTime":"22:15","pubDate":"03-03-2026","modTime":"22:16","modDate":"03-03-2026","taxonomyTags":"none","id":130504153,"editorialOtherSubjects":"","wordCount":"none","columns":"none","authors":"","authorsUnit":"none","authorsBureau":"none","subBrand":"Good Morning America","provider":"Good Morning America","videoName":"North Carolina 2026 live primary election results","mediaAssetTitle":"PRIMARY ELECTION RESULTS: NORTH CAROLINA","videoId":130504153,"mediaOnPage":"video","legacySlug":"/news/story/north-carolina-2026-live-primary-election-results-130504153"},"taboola":{}},"request":{"headers":{},"httpVersion":"1.1","method":"GET","url":"/video/130504153","vary":{"host":"www.goodmorningamerica.com","cached":true,"path":"/video/130504153","forwarded-proto":"https","device":"desktop","userab":"0"}},"viewport":{"width":1260,"height":0},"user":{}};