Roy Cooper's lead in North Carolina has narrowed to 10 points. Will he still win the Senate seat by more than 10 on Nov 3?
80% of users predicted YES — the community got this one right. 10 predictions cast.
Former North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper, a Democrat, defeated Republican Michael Whatley in the state's U.S. Senate race, called on election night, November 3, 2026, with unofficial returns showing Cooper ahead by roughly 19 points (about 58.7% to 39.2%), according to NBC News and WRAL. The margin exceeded the 10-point threshold this question asked about, even though pre-election tracking polls had shown Cooper's lead narrowing into single digits in some October surveys.
Cooper benefited from a favorable national environment for Democrats in the midterms and from Whatley's identity as President Trump's hand-picked nominee and former Republican National Committee chairman, which Cooper's campaign used to tie him to an unpopular administration. Whatley conceded to Cooper by phone and addressed supporters in Gastonia. Cooper will succeed retiring Republican Sen. Thom Tillis and takes office in January 2027, becoming the first North Carolina Democrat to win a Senate seat since 2008.
The Predict Six community anticipated the lopsided outcome, with 80% forecasting Cooper would clear the 10-point bar, in line with the eventual result.