Nonpartisan civic infrastructure
AllCiv·Legis1
·

North Carolina U.S. Senate Seat (Class II)

North Carolina · Next election 2026 · 3 active candidates · $49.5M raisedFederal
About This Office

One of two U.S. Senate seats representing the state of North Carolina. Senators serve six-year terms and represent the entire state population.

Total Seats
100
Term Length
6 years
Salary
$174,000
Current Officeholders
This Seat
Sen. Thom Tillis
Sen. Thom TillisR
U.S. Senator · North Carolina
Tenure
11y
Bills Spon.
56
Votes Missed
11.85%
Cross-party
153
Committees
ChairFinancial Institutions and Consumer Protection Subcommittee
ChairIntellectual Property Subcommittee
Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee
+12 more
Other Seats
Sen. Ted Budd
Sen. Ted BuddR
U.S. Senator · North Carolina
The 2026 Race

22 candidates filed, 3 active for the 2026 Senate election in North Carolina. Party primary on Mar 3, 2026. General election on Nov 3, 2026.

Primary
Mar 3, 2026
General
Nov 3, 2026
Total Raised
$49.5M
Candidates
3 active / 22 filed
Incumbent
—
Cash on Hand
$24.2M
Election History
YearWinnerResultRunner-UpTotal Votes
2022Ted Budd R50.5%Cheri Beasley D 47.3%3,771,546
2020Thom Tillis R48.7%Cal Cunningham D 46.9%5,474,952
2016Richard Burr R51.1%Deborah K. Ross D 45.4%4,691,133
2014Thom Tillis R48.9%Kay R. Hagan D 47.3%2,910,010
2010Richard Burr R54.8%Elaine Marshall D 43.1%2,658,807
2008Kay Hagan D52.7%Elizabeth Dole R 44.2%4,270,251
2004Richard Burr R51.6%Erskine Bowles D 47.0%3,471,720
2002Elizabeth H. Dole R53.6%Erskine B. Bowles D 45.0%2,330,454
1998John Edwards D51.2%Lauch Faircloth R 47.0%2,012,143
1996Jesse Helms R52.6%Harvey B. Gantt D 45.9%2,556,313
1992Lauch Faircloth R50.3%Terry Sanford D 46.3%2,577,891
1990Jesse Helms R52.6%Harvey B. Gantt D 47.4%2,068,904
1984Jesse Helms R51.7%James B. (Jim) Hunt Jr. D 47.8%2,239,051
1980John P. East R50.0%Robert Morgan D 49.4%1,797,665
1978Jesse Helms R54.5%John Randolph Ingram D 45.5%1,135,814
State
Population
10,730,404
Median HH Income
$72K
Unemployment
4.7%
Bachelor's+
35.7%
Veterans
7.4%
Median Age
39.1
Mean HH Income
$101K
Poverty Rate
13.0%
HS or Higher
90.1%
Median Home Value
$289K
Median Rent
$1,228/mo
Owner-Occupied
66.6%
Under 18 / 65+
21.8% / 17.2%