Here’s what to watch for when early voting opens today in North Carolina’s 2026 primaries

An early voting line outside the Durham County Main Library on October 19, 2024. (Photo: Lynn Bonner/NC Newsline)

North Carolina’s 2026 primary elections are about to begin, setting up key congressional, state legislative and judicial races in November. Here’s NC Newsline watching the races.

Early voting will begin at 8 am on Thursday. Voters who are not already registered will have the opportunity to do so at polling places until the end of the early voting period on Feb. 28 at 3 p.m. Election day in the primary is March 3.

North Carolina’s semi-closed primary system means voters registered as Democrats or Republicans can only vote in their party’s primary. Unaffiliated voters can choose which primary they want to vote in. The state’s other recognized political parties, the Libertarian and Green, do not have primaries on the ballot this year.

The US Senate race has begun

The Senate race, which is expected to be one of the most competitive, expensive races in the country in November, will formally name the candidates in this primary. Both the Republican and Democratic primaries are clear frontrunners.

The Democratic Party is expected to nominate popular two-term Gov. Roy Cooper, who has not won a significant contest since announcing his run in July. Cooper has built a formidable war chest, bringing in nearly $18 million by 2025.

On the Republican side, former RNC Chairman Michael Whatley has a broad poll lead and significant support from President Donald Trump, despite low name recognition. Her rivals include attorney Don Brown and education activist Michelle Morrow, both of whom have criticized her performance leading the recovery from Hurricane Helen.

State Senate leader in a neck-and-neck race

The most powerful Republican in the state Senate is facing the toughest primary challenge of his career.

Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Berger (R-Rockingham), who has led his party in the upper chamber of the General Assembly for more than two decades, is in a tight race against Rockingham Sheriff Sam Page.

While state Senate primaries are often sleeper affairs, Berger and his allies have poured millions into the race as recent polls show him leading or trailing his opponent by a few points.

“This race is a jump ball for Sam Page’s campaign,” Republican pollster Mark Rotterman said in a statement. “The question is, can Sam Page compete financially with Senator Berger’s massive war chest, or is this a race where the base has made up its mind on the position?”

If Berger were to lose his race, it would leave Senate Republicans without a leader who has led their caucus since winning control of the legislature in 2010.

The battle for the courts continues

In the decisive state Supreme Court race, with incumbent Democrat Judge Anita Earls and Republican challenger Sarah Stevens (R-Surry) running unopposed in their respective parties, the primaries will decide key matchups for appeals in three seats up for election, all of which are held by Democrats.

In Court of Appeals Seat 1, two Republicans are facing off against Cooper appointee Judge John Arrowood, who will be running in his first election. Administrative Law Judge Michael Byrne boasts a trifecta of endorsements from police advocacy groups, while Superior Court Judge Matt Smith has local support in Union County, where he lives.

Neither party will hold a primary for Court of Appeals Seat 2, where incumbent Democrat Judge Toby Hampson is being challenged by Judge George Bell, a Republican serving on the Supreme Court.

The only statewide Democratic judicial primary will decide the nominee for Appellate Seat 3. Incumbent Judge Allegra Collins declined to seek re-election. Wake County District Court Judge Christine Walczyk is set to face off against James Whalen, an attorney representing Judge Alison Riggs in a months-long challenge to win her election. Gaston County District Judge Craig Collins is unopposed as the Republican candidate for Seat 3.

US House primaries see expensive contests

State Sen. Bobby Hanig, Army veteran Laurie Buckhout, divorce attorney Ashley-Nicole Russell and Carteret County Sheriff Asa Buck are facing off in the GOP primary for the 1st Congressional District. The winner will face U.S. Rep. Don Davis in the general election for North Carolina’s most competitive U.S. House race.

The 2024 matchup between Davis and Buckhout was the state’s costliest congressional race of that election cycle.

In the 3rd Congressional District, former state Rep. Raymond Smith and veteran Alison Jaslow are vying for the Democratic nomination. Democrats believe the latest round of redistricting has made the previously safe Republican district a little more competitive for Democrats.

Smith has the endorsement of the Congressional Black Caucus, while Jaslow previously served as CEO of the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America. The winner will face incumbent Republican Rep. Greg Murphy in November.

The 4th Congressional District Democratic primary is a rematch of the 2022 contest between incumbent U.S. Rep. Valerie Fauci and Durham County Commissioner Nida Allam.

The pair reported similar fundraising numbers in 2025 — $361,919 for Foushee, and $334,740 for Allam.

Fauci has faced criticism from Allam and other Democrats for accepting donations from the pro-Israel lobby group American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC). Meanwhile, U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (D-Vt.) is stumping for Allam, hosting an event with her in Durham on Friday.