Currituck News Wire
RALEIGH, N.C. — North Carolina’s open U.S. Senate seat is at the center of a closely watched Republican primary ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.
The seat is open because incumbent Republican U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis announced he will not seek re-election to a third term, ending a decade in the Senate that began with his first victory in 2014. Tillis, a former House member from Raleigh, faced criticism from within his own party in recent years and was censured by state Republican activists in 2023 for his support of bipartisan legislation, including immigration reform and the Respect for Marriage Act. Those intra-party tensions contributed to his decision not to run again.
The Republican primary to replace Tillis is scheduled for March 3, 2026, with early voting beginning in mid-February. The primary will determine which Republican nominee will face a Democratic opponent in the November 3 general election.
Republican candidates on the ballot include:
- Michael Whatley, former chair of the Republican National Committee, who has Trump’s endorsement and is widely considered a frontrunner in the GOP contest.
- Don Brown, an attorney and author who previously ran for Congress.
- Richard Dansie, an IT security engineer and GOP contender.
- Thomas Johnson, a businessman seeking the nomination.
- Michele Morrow, a conservative activist and former state superintendent nominee.
- Elizabeth Anne Temple, a teacher and prior state House candidate.
Some candidates initially filed but later were disqualified or withdrew, including Margot Dupre, who state elections officials ruled was not eligible because she lacked valid North Carolina voter registration.
The GOP field reflects a mix of political veterans and challengers vying to appeal to conservative primary voters. Whatley’s candidacy is notable for his national party leadership experience, while other candidates emphasize grassroots and business credentials.
Winning the Republican nomination will position the victor to compete in the general election for a seat that political analysts rate as competitive, and which could play a key role in control of the U.S. Senate.
Voters interested in participating in the primary must be registered by deadlines in early February, with early voting and absentee procedures already underway ahead of the March primary date.
