A new Fox News poll finds Democrat Roy Cooper holding a nine-point lead over Republican Michael Whatley in North Carolina's US Senate race, with the contest shaped largely by a marked enthusiasm gap between the two parties' voters. The result is notable because North Carolina is regarded as one of the most competitive states in the 2026 midterms, and the poll suggests Democratic voters are currently more energised and more likely to turn out than their Republican counterparts.

According to the poll, 51% of Democrats say they are extremely interested in the midterm elections compared with 42% of Republicans, while 58% of Democrats say they are extremely motivated to vote versus 50% of Republicans. Cooper leads Whatley, the former Republican National Committee chair, 53% to roughly 44% in the head-to-head matchup. The survey comes as Fox News' broader power rankings show razor-thin margins nationally, with four Senate seats and 16 House seats rated as toss-ups just 100 days before the midterms.