New PPP Poll Puts Cooper Slightly Ahead in North Carolina’s Open Senate Race

Overview

• Public Policy Polling’s March 13–14 survey of 556 voters shows Roy Cooper at 47% and Michael Whatley at 44% with 9% undecided, within the poll’s ±4.2% margin of error.
• Cooper posts a net positive favorability and far higher name recognition, while 36% of voters say they are not sure about Whatley.
• Demographic splits remain stark, with women and Black voters favoring Cooper and men and white voters leaning toward Whatley.
• North Carolina has not elected a Democrat to the U.S. Senate since 2008, highlighting the state’s recent Republican tilt in federal races.
• The same PPP poll finds multiple statewide judicial contests separated by one to three points with sizable undecided shares, indicating broader electoral competitiveness.