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U.S. Senate

U.S. Senate, North Carolina

November 3, 2026 · 12 statements · 2026.09.23-9cd5d035

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  • The candidate list has not yet been checked against the certified state list.

Candidates

  • Roy Cooper

    Democratic

    Sourced positions on 8 of 12

  • Michael Whatley

    Republican

    Sourced positions on 2 of 12

    Limited data. Sourced positions on fewer than 60 percent of the statements.

Also on the ballot

  • Shannon W. Bray Libertarian Not researched: below our published threshold
  • Michael Dublin Green Not researched: below our published threshold

We research every Democratic or Republican nominee, every incumbent, and anyone who raised at least $50,000 (per the FEC) or reached 5 percent in a public poll. Methodology

Statements and positions

AgreeDisagreeNo clear position Select a position to see the evidence behind it.

Federal statements

EconomyNo. 01/12

The federal minimum wage should be raised above $7.25 an hour.

Background

The federal minimum wage has been $7.25 an hour since 2009. States and cities can set higher minimums, and many do.

Roy Cooper Agree

$15 is an admirable goal.

Press quote · Feb 13, 2019 · retrieved Sep 23, 2026

Verification
Quote found on the cited page by an independent check.
Confidence
Low (0.45)
Review
Not yet reviewed by a person.

Michael Whatley No clear position

We found no public vote or statement that answers this. It is not counted.

Verification
Quote found on the cited page by an independent check.
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Know a source? Challenge with evidence.

TaxesNo. 02/12

Federal income taxes should be raised on households earning more than $400,000 a year.

Background

This would increase the federal income tax owed by the highest-earning households. Households below that income would not be affected by this change.

Roy Cooper Agree

Meanwhile the biggest corporations and the richest Americans have grabbed unimaginable wealth at your expense.

Campaign or official site · Jul 28, 2025 · retrieved Sep 23, 2026

Verification
Quote found on the cited page by an independent check.
Confidence
Low (0.40)
Review
Not yet reviewed by a person.

Michael Whatley No clear position

We found no public vote or statement that answers this. It is not counted.

Verification
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Know a source? Challenge with evidence.

Health careNo. 03/12

Federal premium subsidies for Affordable Care Act marketplace plans should be expanded.

Background

These subsidies lower the monthly cost of health plans bought on HealthCare.gov and state marketplaces. Expanding them would lower premiums for more buyers and increase federal spending.

Roy Cooper Agree

Washington DC's failure to extend these subsidies to make health care more affordable is unacceptable.

Campaign or official site · Dec 11, 2025 · retrieved Sep 23, 2026

Verification
Quote found on the cited page by an independent check.
Confidence
High (0.85)
Review
Not yet reviewed by a person.

Michael Whatley No clear position

We found no public vote or statement that answers this. It is not counted.

Verification
Quote found on the cited page by an independent check.
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ImmigrationNo. 04/12

Congress should fund more physical barriers along the U.S.-Mexico border.

Background

This would pay for additional fencing or wall along the southern border. It concerns construction funding, not other kinds of border enforcement.

Roy Cooper No clear position

We found no public vote or statement that answers this. It is not counted.

Verification
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Michael Whatley Agree

I am 100% supportive of President Trump securing the border and deporting the millions of criminal illegal aliens that Joe Biden and Roy Cooper allowed into this country.

Campaign or official site · Jan 1, 2026 · retrieved Sep 23, 2026

I am going to support you. I'm going to fight for you. And I'm going to make sure that we have the laws in place. And you have the funding in place.

Press quote · Aug 28, 2026 · retrieved Sep 23, 2026

Verification
Quote found on the cited page by an independent check.
Confidence
Low (0.50)
Review
Not yet reviewed by a person.

GunsNo. 05/12

Federal law should require background checks for all gun sales, including private sales.

Background

Federal law requires background checks for sales by licensed dealers but not for most sales between private individuals. This would extend the requirement to private sales.

Roy Cooper Agree

Eliminating strong background checks will allow more domestic abusers and other dangerous people to own handguns and reduces law enforcement's ability to stop them from committing violent crimes.

Campaign or official site · Mar 24, 2023 · retrieved Sep 23, 2026

Verification
Quote found on the cited page by an independent check.
Confidence
Medium (0.65)
Review
Not yet reviewed by a person.

Michael Whatley No clear position

We found no public vote or statement that answers this. It is not counted.

Verification
Quote found on the cited page by an independent check.
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Know a source? Challenge with evidence.

AbortionNo. 06/12

Abortion laws should be set by each state rather than by Congress.

Background

Since the Supreme Court's 2022 Dobbs decision, each state sets its own abortion laws. Agreeing means Congress should not pass a national law that either expands or restricts access.

Roy Cooper No clear position

We found no public vote or statement that answers this. It is not counted.

Verification
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Michael Whatley No clear position

We found no public vote or statement that answers this. It is not counted.

Verification
Quote found on the cited page by an independent check.
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Know a source? Challenge with evidence.

Energy and climateNo. 07/12

The federal government should expand oil and gas drilling on federal lands and waters.

Background

This concerns leases on land and offshore areas the federal government owns. It does not cover drilling on private or state land.

Roy Cooper Disagree

To put our communities first and to protect our coast as well as our economy, I am saying no to seismic testing and offshore drilling.

Press quote · Jul 20, 2017 · retrieved Sep 23, 2026

Verification
Quote found on the cited page by an independent check.
Confidence
Medium (0.60)
Review
Not yet reviewed by a person.

Michael Whatley Agree

CEA strongly supports expanded offshore energy development as a critical component of a rational, balanced all-of-the-above energy policy.

Campaign or official site · Jul 12, 2017 · retrieved Sep 23, 2026

By practicing fiscal responsibility and unleashing American energy, we can empower American workers

Campaign or official site · Jan 1, 2026 · retrieved Sep 23, 2026

Verification
Quote found on the cited page by an independent check.
Confidence
Medium (0.65)
Review
Not yet reviewed by a person.

Energy and climateNo. 08/12

The federal government should limit greenhouse gas emissions from power plants.

Background

This would set federal limits on the carbon pollution power plants release. It concerns regulation by agencies such as the Environmental Protection Agency.

Roy Cooper Agree

This new bipartisan law requires the North Carolina Utilities Commission to take steps needed to get North Carolina a 70% reduction in carbon emission by the year 2030 and to carbon neutrality by 2050.

Campaign or official site · Oct 13, 2021 · retrieved Sep 23, 2026

Verification
Quote found on the cited page by an independent check.
Confidence
Medium (0.75)
Review
Not yet reviewed by a person.

Michael Whatley No clear position

We found no public vote or statement that answers this. It is not counted.

Verification
Quote found on the cited page by an independent check.
Review
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Know a source? Challenge with evidence.

EconomyNo. 09/12

The U.S. should keep broad tariffs on imported goods.

Background

Tariffs are taxes paid on imported goods. Since 2025 the U.S. has applied tariffs to imports from most countries, and this statement is about keeping them in place.

Roy Cooper Disagree

These tariffs don't work. They're being paid by consumers and businesses and farmers here in the United States.

Press quote · Nov 7, 2025 · retrieved Sep 23, 2026

Verification
Quote found on the cited page by an independent check.
Confidence
Medium (0.60)
Review
Not yet reviewed by a person.

Michael Whatley No clear position

We found no public vote or statement that answers this. It is not counted.

Verification
Quote found on the cited page by an independent check.
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Know a source? Challenge with evidence.

Democracy and electionsNo. 10/12

Voters should have to show photo identification to vote in federal elections.

Background

Voter ID rules are set by each state today and vary widely. This would set one photo ID requirement for federal elections nationwide.

Roy Cooper Disagree

Requiring photo IDs for in-person voting is a solution in search of a problem.

Campaign or official site · Dec 14, 2018 · retrieved Sep 23, 2026

Verification
Quote found on the cited page by an independent check.
Confidence
Medium (0.75)
Review
Not yet reviewed by a person.

Michael Whatley No clear position

We found no public vote or statement that answers this. It is not counted.

Verification
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Public safetyNo. 11/12

A president should be able to send the National Guard into a state over its governor's objection.

Background

Governors normally command their state's National Guard, but federal law lets a president take control of it in some situations. Since 2025, the use of that power to send troops into cities has been challenged in court.

Roy Cooper No clear position

We found no public vote or statement that answers this. It is not counted.

Verification
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Michael Whatley No clear position

We found no public vote or statement that answers this. It is not counted.

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Foreign policyNo. 12/12

The U.S. should continue sending military aid to Ukraine.

Background

The U.S. has provided weapons and military funding to Ukraine since Russia's 2022 invasion. This would keep that support going.

Roy Cooper No clear position

We found no public vote or statement that answers this. It is not counted.

Verification
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Michael Whatley No clear position

We found no public vote or statement that answers this. It is not counted.

Verification
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