A new poll from East Carolina University’s Center for Survey Research finds Democrat Roy Cooper leading Republican Michael Whatley by nine percentage points in North Carolina’s U.S. Senate race, 54% to 45%, with 1% supporting a minor-party or write-in candidate. The survey, conducted October 26 through 29, shows Cooper’s lead widening slightly from the seven-point advantage he held in the center’s report last month. The poll has a credibility interval of ±3.5 percentage points, similar to a traditional margin of error.
The nine-point margin suggests a race that may be slipping away from Republicans in a state that has been closely contested in recent elections. With Election Day approaching, the findings could shape last-minute campaign strategies and donor decisions. The full announcement, including downloadable images and bios, is available click here.
Cooper’s advantage is fueled by a 14-point lead among independent voters, a key bloc in North Carolina politics. He also holds a net-positive favorability rating, with 52% of voters viewing him favorably and 39% unfavorably. Whatley, by contrast, is underwater: 34% favorable and 44% unfavorable. Those numbers suggest that Whatley has struggled to introduce himself favorably to the electorate, while Cooper’s profile remains relatively strong.
Economic concerns dominate the electorate’s priorities. Forty-seven percent of voters name the economy and cost of living as their top issue, and among these voters Cooper leads Whatley by a two-to-one margin, 67% to 33%. That gap is striking given that Republicans typically enjoy an advantage on economic issues. If Cooper is winning economic voters by such a wide margin, it could signal deeper trouble for Whatley’s campaign.
The poll was conducted by the ECU Center for Survey Research, which conducts nonpartisan public opinion polling on elections, politics, and public policy issues in North Carolina and across the nation. The center’s work is widely watched by political analysts and journalists covering the state.
With just days until voters head to the polls, the survey underscores the challenges facing Whatley as he seeks to close the gap. Cooper’s consistent lead and his strength among independents and economic voters suggest that the Democrat enters the final stretch with momentum. For Republicans hoping to hold the Senate seat, the numbers point to a difficult path ahead.
