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Federal

U.S. Senator

Vote for
1
Term
6 years
Candidates
4
Election
Nov 3, 2026

What this office does: A U.S. senator votes on federal laws, confirms federal judges and cabinet members, and ratifies treaties; North Carolina elects two for six-year terms.

CandidatesCompare by issue

Taxes & budget

  • Michael DublinGreen

    • Supports cutting the military budget to fund domestic programs.

  • Roy CooperDemocratic

    • Proposes expanding the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit.

  • Shannon W. BrayLibertarian

    • Supports capping federal spending and simplifying the tax code.

  • Michael WhatleyRepublican

    • Supports the Working Families Tax Cuts law Republicans passed.In office

Public safety

  • Michael DublinGreen

    • Supports abolishing ICE and ending deportations.

  • Roy CooperDemocratic

    No documented position found.

  • Shannon W. BrayLibertarian

    • Supports enforcing immigration laws and streamlining legal immigration.

  • Michael WhatleyRepublican

    • Pledges to restore law and order and back police.
    • Supports border security and deporting criminal immigrants here illegally.
    • Pledges to defend Second Amendment rights.

Education

Housing

  • Michael DublinGreen

    • Supports universal rent control and more public housing.

  • Roy CooperDemocratic

    • Supports banning corporate investors from buying single-family homes.
    • Proposes banning algorithm-driven rent-setting software.

  • Shannon W. BrayLibertarian

    No documented position found.

  • Michael WhatleyRepublican

    No documented position found.

Economy & jobs

  • Michael DublinGreen

    • Supports raising the federal minimum wage to $25.

  • Roy CooperDemocratic

    • Pledges to end tariffs that raise farmers' costs.
    • Proposes banning algorithms that set grocery prices per customer.

  • Shannon W. BrayLibertarian

    No documented position found.

  • Michael WhatleyRepublican

    • Supports unleashing American energy to reach energy independence.

Roads & infrastructure

Environment & parks

  • Michael DublinGreen

    • Supports a Green New Deal with union green jobs.
    • Supports banning new oil and gas drilling.

  • Roy CooperDemocratic

    No documented position found.

  • Shannon W. BrayLibertarian

    • Supports nuclear energy and ending market-distorting subsidies.

  • Michael WhatleyRepublican

    No documented position found.

Health & human services

  • Michael DublinGreen

    • Supports free health care for all and paid parental leave.

  • Roy CooperDemocratic

    • Supports reinstating ACA tax credits and reversing Medicaid cuts.
    • Proposes capping yearly out-of-pocket prescription drug costs.

  • Shannon W. BrayLibertarian

    • Supports expanding HSAs and repealing federal health care mandates.

  • Michael WhatleyRepublican

    • Supports TrumpRx and most-favored-nation drug pricing.In office

Government & transparency

  • Michael DublinGreen

    • Supports overturning Citizens United and campaign finance reform.

  • Roy CooperDemocratic

    No documented position found.

  • Shannon W. BrayLibertarian

    • Opposes mass surveillance without probable cause.
    • Supports requiring congressional authorization for military action.

  • Michael WhatleyRepublican

    • Pledges to advance President Trump's America First agenda.

Courts & justice

  • Michael DublinGreen

    No documented position found.

  • Roy CooperDemocratic

    No documented position found.

  • Shannon W. BrayLibertarian

    • Supports ending civil asset forfeiture without a conviction.
    • Supports reducing mandatory minimums for nonviolent offenses.

  • Michael WhatleyRepublican

    No documented position found.

Challengers are listed first and incumbents last; otherwise candidates appear in ballot order. The Gist does not rank, rate or endorse candidates. Only positions backed by a cited source are shown; 10 issues covered in this race.