U.S. media report that on Nov. 3 former North Carolina governor Roy Cooper, a Democrat, defeated Republican Michael Watley, who had President Trump’s backing, in the U.S. Senate race, delivering a key Senate seat to Democrats. Cooper’s win ends an 18-year Republican streak; he is the first Democrat in 18 years to win a U.S. Senate election in the state.

2026-11-04

U.S. media report that on Nov. 3 former North Carolina governor Roy Cooper, a Democrat, defeated Republican Michael Watley, who had President Trump’s backing, in the U.S. Senate race, delivering a key Senate seat to Democrats. Cooper’s win ends an 18-year Republican streak; he is the first Democrat in 18 years to win a U.S. Senate election in the state.