WAYNE COUNTY, N.C. — North Carolina voters headed to the polls Tuesday, November 3, for the 2026 midterm elections, with closely watched races for the U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives highlighting election night results.
Democrat Roy Cooper held a substantial statewide lead in the U.S. Senate race, while Democratic Congressman Don Davis and Republican Congressman Greg Murphy maintained narrow leads in their respective congressional districts.
In Wayne County, voters favored Cooper in the Senate race by just over 1,000 votes, while Murphy held a narrow advantage in the county’s 3rd Congressional District results.
Roy Cooper Leads U.S. Senate Race Statewide and in Wayne County
Former North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper, a Democrat, held a commanding lead over Republican Michael Whatley in the race for U.S. Senate.
According to unofficial statewide election night results, Cooper received 2,376,511 votes, or 58.55%, compared to Whatley, who received 1,593,729 votes, or 39.27%.
Libertarian candidate Shannon W. Bray received 53,501 votes, representing 1.32%, while Green Party candidate Michael Dublin received 34,902 votes, or 0.86%.
In Wayne County, the race was considerably closer.
Cooper received 19,498 votes, while Whatley received 18,406 votes, giving Cooper a lead of 1,092 votes locally.
Bray received 401 votes in Wayne County, while Dublin received 265 votes.
The results show Cooper maintaining a significant statewide advantage while receiving more closely divided support among Wayne County voters.
Don Davis Leads Tight Congressional District 1 Race
In North Carolina’s 1st Congressional District, Democratic Congressman Don Davis held a narrow lead over Republican challenger Laurie Buckhout.
Davis received 146,571 votes, or 49.36%, compared to Buckhout, who received 140,830 votes, representing 47.43%.
Libertarian candidate Tom Bailey received 9,552 votes, or 3.22%.
Davis held a lead of 5,741 votes over Buckhout in the unofficial districtwide results.
The 1st Congressional District race was among the closely contested congressional elections in eastern North Carolina, with neither major-party candidate receiving more than 50% of the reported vote.
Greg Murphy Leads Congressional District 3 Race
In North Carolina’s 3rd Congressional District, Republican Congressman Greg Murphy held a narrow lead over Democratic challenger Raymond Smith.
Murphy received 107,640 votes, or 50.32%, compared to Smith, who received 103,551 votes, representing 48.41%.
Libertarian candidate Daniel Cavender received 2,699 votes, or 1.26%.
Murphy led Smith by 4,089 votes across the district.
Wayne County voters also favored Murphy, although the local results reflected a competitive race.
Murphy received 19,565 votes in Wayne County, compared to Smith, who received 18,530 votes.
Cavender received 431 votes locally.
Murphy’s lead in Wayne County was 1,035 votes, closely reflecting the competitive nature of the districtwide contest.
2026 U.S. Senate and Congressional Election Results
Unofficial election night totals
U.S. Senate — North Carolina
| Candidate | Statewide Votes | Statewide % | Wayne County Votes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roy Cooper (D) | 2,376,511 | 58.55% | 19,498 |
| Michael Whatley (R) | 1,593,729 | 39.27% | 18,406 |
| Shannon W. Bray (LIB) | 53,501 | 1.32% | 401 |
| Michael Dublin (GRE) | 34,902 | 0.86% | 265 |
U.S. House — District 1
| Candidate | Districtwide Votes | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Don Davis (D) | 146,571 | 49.36% |
| Laurie Buckhout (R) | 140,830 | 47.43% |
| Tom Bailey (LIB) | 9,552 | 3.22% |
U.S. House — District 3
| Candidate | Districtwide Votes | Districtwide % | Wayne County Votes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Greg Murphy (R) | 107,640 | 50.32% | 19,565 |
| Raymond Smith (D) | 103,551 | 48.41% | 18,530 |
| Daniel Cavender (LIB) | 2,699 | 1.26% | 431 |
Wayne County Voter Turnout Tops 50%
Wayne County recorded a voter turnout of 50.04%, with 38,788 ballots cast out of 77,521 registered voters.
The results highlight a politically competitive electorate in Wayne County, where Cooper led the U.S. Senate race while Murphy maintained a narrow lead in the 3rd Congressional District.
Across North Carolina, the Senate race showed a much larger advantage for Cooper, while the congressional races in Districts 1 and 3 remained considerably closer.
All election night results remain unofficial and are subject to change as additional ballots are counted and election officials complete the canvassing process.
The Wayne County Board of Elections is scheduled to conduct its official canvass on Friday, November 13, 2026.
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