2026 Election

Former Gov. Roy Cooper easily defeated Michael Whatley on Tuesday for North Carolina's open U.S. Senate seat, flipping a state as Democrats seek to regain control of the Senate.

Incumbent Democratic U.S. Rep. Alma Adams easily won reelection Monday night, and Democratic challenger Jamie Ager flipped a Republican-held district in western North Carolina.

Charlotte voters appeared on their way to approve three bond issues Tuesday, setting the city up to invest hundreds of millions in affordable housing and transportation improvements.

Democratic challenger Ken McCool held a large lead for a key state House seat over Republican incumbent Tricia Cotham.

Three amendments to the North Carolina Constitution were on track to pass Tuesday: future limits on state income taxes and local property taxes and stricter voter ID requirements for mail-in ballots.

Democrat Roy Cooper won North Carolina’s open U.S. Senate seat Tuesday, according to a race call from The Associated Press. Cooper, the former governor, becomes the first Democrat elected to the Senate in North Carolina since 2008.

The North Carolina State Board of Elections has extended voting hours at five polling places that opened late Tuesday morning because of computer and printer problems.Two of the affected sites are in Hertford County. The others are in Wilson, Lenoir and Columbus counties.Election officials said workers were able to use backup systems in most cases and that all technical problems have been resolved.Voting at those polling places will continue for up to an additional 45 minutes Tuesday evening.Because of the extended hours, the release of election results in North Carolina will be delayed until at least 8:15 p.m.Elsewhere in the state, polls are still scheduled to close at 7:30 p.m. Voters who are in line by that time will still be allowed to cast a ballot.

It’s Election Day for the 2026 midterms, and WFAE reporters are talking to voters outside polling stations throughout the region.A record 2.8 million North Carolinians cast their ballots early this year, with long lines reported at the end of the early voting period on Saturday. Turnout appeared steady on Tuesday, with streams of voters filing through voting booths. The state’s open U.S. Senate seat is the highest-profile contest this year, but the ballot also includes a state Supreme Court seat, constitutional amendments limiting income tax rates and property taxes, as well as a host of local races and county bond questions.

Candidates across North Carolina have made their final ad purchases and donors have given their last contributions in races covering Mecklenburg County and the surrounding area — some of which are expected to be close.

Polls are open in the Carolinas. Here is what you need to know before you head to the ballot box.