New campaign finance data, along with statements from the candidates’ campaigns, show that tens of millions of dollars have already been funnelled into North Carolina’s 2026 U.S. Senate race.
Republican Michael Whatley’s campaign raised $5 million in the first quarter of 2026, his campaign said. Democrat Roy Cooper’s campaign said it more than doubled that haul, with $13.8 million in the first quarter of the year.
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Both campaigns claimed the new numbers prove momentum is on their side.
Whatley spokesman DJ Griffin said: “North Carolinians deserve a senator who will be an ally to President Trump, fight to bring down prices, cut taxes, and keep our communities safe.”
Cooper campaign manager Jeff Allen said: “North Carolinians know Roy will put them – not special interests or the well-connected – first in the U.S. Senate.”
Combined with money their campaigns raised in late 2025 — plus additional fundraising by so-called “victory” committees that both candidates use in coordination with their state and national political parties — the data shows that supporters of the two candidates have already pledged more than $50 million to their campaigns.
In total, Whatley has raised at least $16 million through his campaign and victory committee. Cooper has raised at least $36 million through his campaign and victory committee.
Those figures don’t count the money also expected to pour into the race from outside groups that aren’t allowed to coordinate with the candidates’ campaigns, which WRAL reported last week is already approaching the nine-figure mark.
The election is still nearly seven months away.
There’s no FEC data showing any fundraising figures from two other candidates in the race, the Green Party’s Brian McGinnis — a Raleigh firefighter who recently made news for being forcibly removed from a U.S. Senate hearing on the Iran war — or Libertarian Party nominee Shannon Bray.