An especially noteworthy 2026 primary election has come and gone, and there were a lot of important and high-profile outcomes – some expected and some surprising.
Topping the list of predicted results were the outcomes in the Democratic and Republican U.S. Senate primaries, where former Gov. Roy Cooper and GOP party official Michael Whatley cruised to easy wins and are now set for what all expect to be an expensive November showdown.
Interestingly, however, despite its national importance, the Senate primaries were partially overshadowed by a Republican primary in a state Senate race in which longtime Senate leader Phil Berger and Rockingham County Sheriff Sam Page are headed for a recount. NC Newsline caught up with Western Carolina University political science professor Chris Cooper to review these and other results.