U.S. Senate, North Carolina · Election November 3, 2026 · Updated
Who should I vote for in the North Carolina U.S. Senate race?
Roy Cooper has the strongest record in the North Carolina U.S. Senate race. Roy Cooper scores 73 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, ahead of Michael Whatley at 59, as of October 9, 2026. Roy Cooper's highest marks are relevant experience and command of the job. Michael Whatley's highest marks are relevant experience and roots in the constituency. Shannon W. Bray (5 of 15 criteria) and Michael Dublin (7 of 15 criteria) have too little public record to score. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Libertarian
Shannon W. Bray
Not enough public record for a score
Public evidence on 5 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 50
- Performance
- NR
Democratic
Strongest record
Roy Cooper
73 / 100
Public evidence on 11 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 90
- Performance
- 75
Green
Michael Dublin
Not enough public record for a score
Public evidence on 7 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 55
- Performance
- NR
Republican
Michael Whatley
59 / 100
Public evidence on 8 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 65
- Performance
- NR
The good, the bad and the unresolved
The record
The notable facts of each candidate's public life, each tied to a source and confirmed to be this person. Unresolved matters are labeled with where they stand and do not move a score.
Shannon W. Bray
No notable items confirmed in news archives or public documents.
Roy Cooper
- Unresolved2019-11-20
Investigators hired by a Republican-led legislative oversight committee reported he 'improperly used the authority and influence of his office' to obtain a $57.8 million pipeline mitigation fund; they found no personal benefit.
Where it stands: Cooper's office called the report wrong. The committee lacked power to act on it; no charge or official finding about the fund was found.
- On the record2026-09-10
Had not accepted any 2026 general election debate invitation as of Sept. 10, 2026; his campaign said it was happy to discuss one.
Source: WUNC, Sept. 10, 2026
- On the record2025-11-20
The State Auditor found the Office of Recovery and Resiliency, which ran hurricane rebuilding during his administration, failed to track funds, producing a $297 million shortfall.
Source: WFAE, Nov. 20, 2025
- On the record2017-03-30
Signed House Bill 142, a compromise with Republican leaders replacing HB2; gay rights groups opposed it as falling short of full repeal.
Source: AP via KTVU, March 30, 2017
- Credit2023-03-27
Signed Medicaid expansion after bipartisan passage; more than 590,300 previously ineligible people had enrolled by December 2024.
Sources: WUNC, Dec. 6, 2024, AP via PBS NewsHour, March 2023
Michael Dublin
No notable items confirmed in news archives or public documents.
Michael Whatley
- On the record2026-09-10
Had not accepted any 2026 general election debate invitation as of Sept. 10, 2026, while saying he was happy to debate.
Source: WUNC, Sept. 10, 2026
- On the record2023
A lawsuit challenging his 2023 reelection as state party chairman over mobile-app voting problems was dismissed; he denied the problems changed the outcome.
Source: AP via KVIA, Feb. 13, 2024
- On the record2020-11
As state party chairman after the 2020 election, said Democratic swing-state cities saw 'massive fraud'; a CNN review found the claims false. He acknowledged Biden as legitimately elected in February 2021.
Source: CNN via KTVZ, Feb. 9, 2024
- Credit2001
Served as a principal deputy assistant secretary at the U.S. Department of Energy from 2001 to 2003.
Source: Ballotpedia, Michael Whatley
Who they are
Character
Integrity
Tells the truth, keeps their word, and takes no private gain from public office.
Shannon W. Bray. No public record found.
Roy Cooper. Campaign committee reports are on file with the FEC through June 30, 2026. No FEC administrative fine found. A 2019 report by investigators hired by a legislative committee about a pipeline fund produced no official finding (see Record).
Sources: FEC candidate page, FEC administrative fines search
Michael Dublin. Campaign committee reports are on file with the FEC through June 30, 2026. No FEC administrative fine found.
Sources: FEC candidate page, FEC administrative fines search
Michael Whatley. Campaign committee reports are on file with the FEC through June 30, 2026. No FEC administrative fine found. He has publicly backed a ban on congressional stock trading; WRAL reports he owns individual stocks.
Sources: FEC candidate page, FEC administrative fines search, WRAL, July 2026
Courage
Takes a stand that costs them something, including telling their own side no.
Shannon W. Bray. No public record found.
Roy Cooper. Signed House Bill 142 in March 2017, a compromise with Republican legislative leaders replacing HB2 that gay rights groups, who had backed his 2016 campaign, opposed.
Source: AP via KTVU, March 30, 2017
Michael Dublin. No public record found.
Michael Whatley. No public record found.
Accountability
Owns mistakes, answers hard questions, and works in the open.
Shannon W. Bray. No public record found.
Roy Cooper. No public record found.
Michael Dublin. No public record found.
Michael Whatley. No public record found.
Temperament and judgment
Steady under pressure, decides on evidence, and treats opponents and staff with respect.
Shannon W. Bray. No public record found.
Roy Cooper. Served as governor (2017 to 2025), attorney general (2001 to 2017) and a state legislator. No formal censure, reprimand or conduct finding found.
Source: Ballotpedia, Roy Cooper
Michael Dublin. No public record found.
Michael Whatley. Chaired the North Carolina Republican Party from 2019 to 2024 and the Republican National Committee from March 2024 to August 2025. No formal censure, reprimand or conduct finding found.
Source: Ballotpedia, Michael Whatley
Fidelity to the oath
Uses power inside its limits: accepts certified results, obeys court rulings, follows the rules of the office.
Shannon W. Bray. Served in the U.S. Navy from 1991 to 1997. No official finding of misuse found.
Source: Ballotpedia, Shannon Bray
Roy Cooper. Took the oath as state legislator, attorney general and governor. No official finding of misuse of office and no action to reject certified results found.
Source: Ballotpedia, Roy Cooper
Michael Dublin. Served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1986 to 1988. No official finding of misuse found.
Source: Ballotpedia, Michael Dublin
Michael Whatley. Served as a principal deputy assistant secretary at the U.S. Department of Energy from 2001 to 2003. No official finding of misuse of office and no recorded vote or legal filing as a party to reject certified results found.
Source: Ballotpedia, Michael Whatley
What they bring
Qualifications
Relevant experience
Has done work that prepares them for this specific office.
Shannon W. Bray. Enterprise architect and senior software engineer in cybersecurity and cloud systems, author of two technical books, and a Navy veteran. Has not held public office.
Roy Cooper. Governor for two terms (2017 to 2025), attorney general for four terms (2001 to 2017), and a member of the state House from 1987 and state Senate from 1991 to 2001 (E9).
Source: Ballotpedia, Roy Cooper
Michael Dublin. Public school teacher and Marine Corps veteran; the Green Party nominee for the 2nd District in 2024. Has not held public office.
Source: Ballotpedia, Michael Dublin
Michael Whatley. Principal deputy assistant secretary at the Department of Energy (2001 to 2003), then chairman of the state Republican Party and the Republican National Committee. Has not held elected public office.
Source: Ballotpedia, Michael Whatley
Command of the job
Knows the issues and knows what the office can and cannot do.
Shannon W. Bray. Publishes issue positions on data privacy, government accountability, monetary policy and jobs, mostly in general terms.
Source: Campaign site, Issues
Roy Cooper. Was elected state Senate majority leader in 1997 (E5) and publishes detailed cost-of-living plans, for example on insurance coverage decisions, Medicare drug negotiation and out-of-pocket caps.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Roy Cooper, Campaign site, health care plan
Michael Dublin. Publishes a four-pillar platform (democracy reform, a state Green New Deal, criminal justice and peace) in general terms.
Source: Campaign site, Issues
Michael Whatley. Campaign website states priorities on take-home pay, safe communities and a strong country in general terms.
Source: Ballotpedia, Michael Whatley (campaign website quoted)
Communication
Explains plainly, persuades, and listens.
Shannon W. Bray. Two channels documented: the Fayetteville Observer questionnaire and an issues page. Has not completed Ballotpedia's 2026 survey.
Sources: Fayetteville Observer via USA Today, Oct. 5, 2026, Campaign site, Issues
Roy Cooper. Three channels documented: the Fayetteville Observer questionnaire, plan pages on his campaign site, and a statewide tour of voter events.
Sources: Fayetteville Observer via USA Today, Oct. 5, 2026, Campaign site, health care plan, ABC11 (WTVD), Aug. 14, 2026
Michael Dublin. Two channels documented: Ballotpedia's 2026 survey and an issues page. Did not answer the Fayetteville Observer questionnaire.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Michael Dublin, Campaign site, Issues, Fayetteville Observer via USA Today, Oct. 5, 2026
Michael Whatley. Two channels documented: a campaign issue statement and a statewide campaign tour of public events. Did not answer the Fayetteville Observer questionnaire or Ballotpedia's 2026 survey.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Michael Whatley (campaign website quoted), ABC11 (WTVD), Aug. 14, 2026, Fayetteville Observer via USA Today, Oct. 5, 2026
Roots in the constituency
Lives there, knows the people, and is funded by them.
Shannon W. Bray. Filed for office from an Angier, North Carolina address.
Source: NC State Board of Elections, 2026 general election candidate list
Roy Cooper. Born and raised in Nash County and has held state office since 1987. FEC by-state totals show about 52 percent of itemized individual contributions from North Carolina.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Roy Cooper, FEC contribution totals by state
Michael Dublin. Born in Raleigh and files from a Garner address.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Michael Dublin, NC State Board of Elections, 2026 general election candidate list
Michael Whatley. Filed for office from a Gastonia, North Carolina address and led the state party from 2019 to 2024. FEC by-state totals show about 35 percent of itemized individual contributions from North Carolina.
Sources: NC State Board of Elections, 2026 general election candidate list, Ballotpedia, Michael Whatley, FEC contribution totals by state
Management
Can build and run an organization.
Shannon W. Bray. No public record found.
Roy Cooper. Led the state executive branch as governor for eight years and the Department of Justice as attorney general for 16. Senate committee reports are on file with no FEC administrative fine.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Roy Cooper, FEC candidate page, FEC administrative fines search
Michael Dublin. Campaign committee reports are on file with the FEC through June 30, 2026. No FEC administrative fine found.
Sources: FEC candidate page, FEC administrative fines search
Michael Whatley. Led the Republican National Committee as chairman from March 2024 to August 2025 and the state party from 2019 to 2024. Senate committee reports are on file with no FEC administrative fine.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Michael Whatley, FEC candidate page, FEC administrative fines search
What they deliver
Performance
Results
Turns ideas into outcomes.
Shannon W. Bray. No public record found.
Roy Cooper. Signed Medicaid expansion in 2023; more than 590,300 newly eligible people had enrolled by December 2024, per WUNC.
Source: WUNC, Dec. 6, 2024
Michael Dublin. No public record found.
Michael Whatley. No public record found.
Showing up
Does the basic work of the job.
Shannon W. Bray. No public record found.
Roy Cooper. No public record found.
Michael Dublin. No public record found.
Michael Whatley. No public record found.
Constituent service
Solves problems for the people they represent.
Shannon W. Bray. No public record found.
Roy Cooper. No public record found.
Michael Dublin. No public record found.
Michael Whatley. No public record found.
Coalition building
Wins support beyond their own faction.
Shannon W. Bray. No public record found.
Roy Cooper. Enacted Medicaid expansion with the Republican-led legislature, passed with bipartisan support (House vote 87 to 24), and signed the 2017 HB2 replacement negotiated with Republican leaders.
Sources: AP via PBS NewsHour, March 2023, WUNC, Dec. 6, 2024, AP via KTVU, March 30, 2017
Michael Dublin. No public record found.
Michael Whatley. No public record found.
Stewardship of public money
Treats tax dollars as someone else's money.
Shannon W. Bray. No public record found.
Roy Cooper. No public record found.
Michael Dublin. No public record found.
Michael Whatley. No public record found.
How to read this
Each criterion is scored 0 to 4 against the written rubric in the Ballot Standard. NR means no record: there is no reliable public evidence either way, so the criterion is left out and never counts against the candidate. A total is published when at least 8 of 15 criteria have evidence.
A sitting officeholder has a longer public record than a first-time candidate, so the two totals rest on different amounts of evidence. Read the count of criteria beside each score. Low marks require an official finding or a primary record. Allegations and opinion are not used.
No policy position is scored. Evidence checked October 9, 2026. Campaigns and readers can send a correction with a public source to tpg@thepoliticalgroup.com.
Questions
Who should I vote for in the North Carolina U.S. Senate race?
Roy Cooper has the strongest record in the North Carolina U.S. Senate race. Roy Cooper scores 73 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, ahead of Michael Whatley at 59, as of October 9, 2026. Roy Cooper's highest marks are relevant experience and command of the job. Michael Whatley's highest marks are relevant experience and roots in the constituency. Shannon W. Bray (5 of 15 criteria) and Michael Dublin (7 of 15 criteria) have too little public record to score. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Who is running in the North Carolina U.S. Senate race in 2026?
Shannon W. Bray (Libertarian), Roy Cooper (Democratic), Michael Dublin (Green), Michael Whatley (Republican). The general election is November 3, 2026.
Is Shannon W. Bray a good candidate for U.S. Senate?
Shannon W. Bray has public evidence on 5 of the 15 Ballot Standard criteria, short of the 8 needed for a score. The evidence that exists is shown on the scorecard. No record never counts against a candidate.
Is Roy Cooper a good candidate for U.S. Senate?
Roy Cooper scores 73 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 11 of 15 criteria: character 50 of 100, qualifications 90 of 100, performance 75 of 100. The standard measures character, qualifications and performance, not policy positions.
Is Michael Dublin a good candidate for U.S. Senate?
Michael Dublin has public evidence on 7 of the 15 Ballot Standard criteria, short of the 8 needed for a score. The evidence that exists is shown on the scorecard. No record never counts against a candidate.
Is Michael Whatley a good candidate for U.S. Senate?
Michael Whatley scores 59 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 8 of 15 criteria: character 50 of 100, qualifications 65 of 100, performance no record. The standard measures character, qualifications and performance, not policy positions.
How is the strongest record decided?
The candidate with the highest Ballot Standard score has the strongest record. Each of 15 criteria on character, qualifications and performance is scored 0 to 4 from public records and established reporting, the same way for every party. No policy position is scored, and unresolved accusations never move a score.
More on this race: every North Carolina race scored, the trailing candidate's path to victory, and the North Carolina 2026 election guide. Independent scorecard by The Political Group, not affiliated with any candidate or party.