(The Center Square) – Favorability ratings of Roy Cooper are 32% better than Michael Whatley in a North Carolina poll of registered voters released Thursday.
Cooper’s favorability-unfavorability was 47%-34% and Whatley was 15% favorable and 23% unfavorable, with 62% unsure or not familiar with him in the sampling from the High Point University Poll. The duo are the candidates for U.S. Senate in 2026, respectively, from the parties of Democrats and Republicans.
Cooper is the former two-term governor and four-term attorney general. Whatley is seeking his first public office after time as the chairman of the Republican National Committee and the North Carolina Republican Party.
U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., is not seeking reelection.
First-term Democratic Gov. Josh Stein was 51% favorable to 25% unfavorable for registered voters. Other notables were the state Supreme Court (36% favorable, 30% unfavorable); the U.S. Supreme Court (38% favorable, 43% unfavorable); Israel (43% favorable, 30% unfavorable); and Congress (34% favorable, 50% unfavorable).
Second-term Republican President Donald Trump was at 43% approval and 48% disapproval.
The poll sampled 950 adults, with 792 saying they are registered to vote, from Aug. 27-Sept. 11. The credibility interval is +/- 3.3%.
