(The Center Square) – Democrat Roy Cooper ended 2025 with more than $12.3 million in cash on hand in his bid to win a U.S. Senate seat from North Carolina.
His chief rival, Republican Michael Whatley, closed at $3.7 million, according to the Federal Elections Commission. Saturday was the deadline for reporting calendar year 2025. The race is expected to break spending records for a U.S. Senate seat and is pivotal in the quest of each party for majority in the chamber.
Republican Sen. Thom Tillis opted not to seek a third term for the six-year assignment.
Early mail-in voting started Jan. 12; voter registration deadline is Friday; and in-person early voting starts Feb. 12. The primary is March 3.
In the 1st Congressional District with redrawn map boundaries meant to favor Republicans, Democratic incumbent U.S. Rep. Don Davis is at $1.9 million cash on hand. Republican challengers are led by Laurie Buckhout ($2.2 million), followed by Asa Buck ($233,296), state Sen. Bobby Hanig ($234,142) and Ashley-Nicole Russell ($194,930).
There’s no report from Libertarian Tom Bailey of Greensboro. Davis and Bailey do not face primary opponents.
In the Senate race, Raleigh’s Cooper and Gastonia’s Whatley are forecast to speed through the primaries. Libertarian Shannon Bray of Angier, without a listing in the database, awaits in the general election.
In other listings for the Democratic primary, Wilmington’s Marcus Williams has no cash on hand. There’s no listing for Jacksonville’s Daryl Farrow, Concord’s Justin Dues, Rocky Point’s Robert Colon or High Point’s Orrick Quick.
In other listings for the Republican primary, cash on hand is $32,000 for Waxhaw’s Don Brown; $1,600 for Cary’s Michele Morrow; $1,600 for Garner’s Thomas Johnson; and $630 for Durham’s Richard Dansie. There’s no listing for Charlotte’s Margot Dupre or Smithfield’s Elizabeth Temple.
Elsewhere in races for the U.S. House of Representatives:
• 2nd Congressional District: Incumbent Democratic Rep. Deborah Ross of Raleigh has nearly $1.2 million cash on hand. There’s no report for Raleigh Republican Eugene Douglass or Cary Libertarian Matthew Laszacs. None face a primary.
• 3rd Congressional District: Incumbent Republican Rep. Dr. Greg Murphy of Greenville has more than $2.4 million cash on hand. Democratic challengers Allison Jaslow of Cary has nearly $114,000 and Goldsboro’s Raymond Smith is without a report. There’s also no report from Lexington Libertarian Daniel Cavender. Murphy and Cavender do not face primaries. This district was also reshaped last fall by the General Assembly.
• 4th Congressional District: Incumbent Democratic Rep. Valerie Foushee of Hillsborough has more than $193,000 cash on hand. Primary challenger Nida Allam of Durham has nearly $306,000 and there’s no report for Durham’s Mary Patterson. There’s also no report for Pittsboro Republican Max Ganorkar or Durham Libertarian Guy Meilleur, neither of which faces a primary.
• 5th Congressional District: Incumbent Republican Rep. Virginia Foxx of Banner Elk has more than $3.3 million cash on hand. There are no reports for her primary challengers Chad Williams of Greensboro, Joey Osborne of Banner Elk or Steve Girard of Jefferson. Wilkesboro Democrat Chuck Hubbard has more than $12,000 and Greensboro Democrat Kyah Creekmore $160. There’s no report for Ronda Libertarian Robert Luffman, who does not face a primary.
• 6th Congressional District: Incumbent Republican Rep. Addison McDowell of Bermuda Run, not facing a primary, has more than $191,000 cash on hand. Among Democrats, Lexington’s Keith Davenport has more than $10,000; High Point’s Cyril Jefferson nearly $7,900; Salisbury’s Beau Blair $5,500; and High Point’s Alysa Kassay a minus balance of more than $8,100.
• 7th Congressional District: Incumbent Republican Rep. David Rouzer of Wilmington has nearly $1.9 million cash on hand. There’s no report for Wilmington Republican David Buzzard. Linden Democrat Dr. Kimberly Hardy has nearly $21,000 and Wilmington Libertarian Maad Abu-Ghazalah has $1,500; each does not face a primary.
• 8th Congressional District: Incumbent Republican Rep. Rev. Mark Harris of Indian Trail, not facing a primary, has more than $330,000. Charlotte Democrat Jesse Oppenheim has more than $131,000; Monroe Democrat Colby Watson has $850; and there’s no report for Rockingham Democrat Kevin Clark.
• 9th Congressional District: Incumbent Republican Rep. Richard Hudson of Southern Pines, not facing a primary, has nearly $1.2 million cash on hand. Aberdeen Democrat Richard Ojeda has nearly $101,000; Hamlet Democrat Nigel Bristow has nearly $700; and there are no reports for Raeford Democrat Lent Carr or Raleigh Democrat Loren Bibler.
• 10th Congressional District: Incumbent Republican Rep. Pat Harrigan of Hickory has more than $344,000 cash on hand. There is no report for Winston-Salem Republican Matthew Sin. Mooresville Democrat West Caudle has more than $12,000; Winston-Salem Democrat Harry Morley more than $10,000; and Winston-Salem Democrat Ashley Bell $500. There are no reports for Winston-Salem Democrats Marcus Pearson and Mir Yarfitz, and Statesville Democrat Ralph Scott Jr.
• 11th Congressional District: Incumbent Republican Rep. Chuck Edwards of Flat Rock has more than $460,000 cash on hand. Black Mountain Republican Adam Smith has just over $2,100. Fairview Democrat Jamie Ager has more than $480,000; Asheville Democrat Dr. Richard Hudspeth nearly $54,000; Burnsville Democrat Paul Maddox nearly $36,000; and Canton Democrat Zelda Briarwood nearly $31,000. There is no report for Asheville Democrat Lee Whipple or Greensboro Libertarian Travis Groo. There is no primary for Libertarians.
• 12th Congressional District: Incumbent Democratic Rep. Alma Adams of Charlotte has more than $431,000 cash on hand. There is no report for Pleasant Garden Democrat Monaca Maye Williamson. Charlotte Republican Addul Ali has $5,900 and Charlotte Republican Jack Codiga nearly $1,200.
• 13th Congressional District: Incumbent Republican Rep. Brad Knott of Raleigh has nearly $436,000 cash on hand. There is no report for Raleigh Republican Sid Sharma. Sanford Democrat Paul Barringer has more than $448,000 and Raleigh Democrat Frank Pierce $800. There is no report for Raleigh Democrat Alexander Nicholi or Sanford Libertarian Steven Swinton. The latter does not face a primary.
• 14th Congressional District: Incumbent Republican Rep. Tim Moore of Kings Mountain has more than $1.5 million cash on hand. Davidson Republican Kate Barr has nearly $7,600. Charlotte Democrat Brent Caldwell has nearly $29,000. There is no report for Charlotte Democrat Lakesha Womack or Huntersville Democrat Ahmid Kargbo.
For candidates without a report, the Federal Elections Commission – if there is at least a name entry on file – in standard repeated language says the reasons could be still processing data; no filing for the time period was made; or the filing deadline (it was Saturday in this case) hasn’t passed.
