A recent poll conducted by Quantus Insights reveals that Michael Whatley, former RNC chairman and the Republican candidate for Senate in North Carolina, is closing in on Democrat Roy Cooper. The two are competing for the seat currently held by retiring Senator Thom Tillis, a Republican.
This survey, which included 987 likely voters, took place from March 31 to April 1 and has a margin of error of +/- 3.5 percent. In this matchup, Cooper garnered 48.6 percent support, while Whatley followed with 43.8 percent.
Undecided voters made up 5.7 percent, and 1.9 percent chose other options. The overall gap between the main candidates is 4.8 percentage points when considering all responses.
Diving deeper, the results show Cooper with a significant advantage among women, leading by 15 points, and by 16 points among independents.
NEW: Quantus Insights North Carolina Midterm Poll | April 2, 2026
đź“Š U.S. Senate
🔵 Roy Cooper: 48.6%
đź”´ Michael Whatley: 43.8%
⚪️ Undecided: 5.7%
⚪️ Other: 1.9%
––Cooper leads by 15 points with women and 16 points with independents.
––––––––––––––––––
đź“Š Generic House Ballot
🔵… pic.twitter.com/PuFAzckbzf— Quantus Insights (@QuantusInsights) April 2, 2026
Cooper, with his history as a governor, has enjoyed substantial name recognition, which has bolstered his campaign. This latest poll aligns with general trends but provides an optimistic overview for Whatley.
The findings suggest a tighter race than indicated by the RealClearPolitics average, which shows Cooper at 47.5 percent, ahead of Whatley at 39.0 percent—an 8.5-point lead for the Democrat.
Whatley’s 43.8 percent in the new poll surpasses his position in the averages by nearly 5 points, hinting at increased competitiveness.
In comparison, a Carolina Journal poll from late March placed Cooper 8 points ahead at 49 to 41 percent, with other surveys revealing even larger leads for Cooper.
The Quantus poll also included a generic congressional ballot that highlighted closer competition, with a generic Democrat receiving 44.7 percent to 43.3 percent for their Republican counterpart.
Moreover, regarding President Donald Trump’s approval ratings, 43 percent of the voters surveyed expressed favorable opinions, while 54.4 percent disapproved. Of those with strong opinions, 50.2 percent strongly disapproved, while 32.2 percent strongly approved.
