North Carolina is set to host a pivotal U.S. Senate contest this fall, with former Democratic Governor Roy Cooper and ex-Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Whatley securing their party’s nominations on Tuesday. Their victories establish a high-stakes battle that could ultimately determine which party controls the Senate.
Both Whatley and Cooper emerged triumphant from crowded primary fields, vying for the seat being vacated by Thom Tillis, who announced last June he would not seek a third term. Weeks after Tillis's decision, the two candidates declared their intentions, largely bypassing intraparty rivals to focus their campaigns on each other.
