---
title: North Carolina News
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[ ![Democrats, Republicans both dip below 30%; independents near 40%](https://thewilmingtonstandard.com/images/joomgrabber/2026-05/e5003bb27b.jpeg) ](https://thewilmingtonstandard.com/north-carolina-news/democrats-republicans-both-dip-below-30-independents-near-40)

 By Alan Wooten | The Center Square

(The Center Square) – Five months and two weeks from Election Day in North Carolina, Democrats continue to lose registrations, Republicans are gaining them nominally, and the independent ranks is swelling at

 

 

 

 

[ ![Election 2026: Cooper, again, increases polling lead over Whatley](https://thewilmingtonstandard.com/images/joomgrabber/2026-05/f22dbe1667.jpeg) ](https://thewilmingtonstandard.com/north-carolina-news/election-2026-cooper-again-increases-polling-lead-over-whatley)

 By Alan Wooten | The Center Square

(The Center Square) – Democrat Roy Cooper, for the second time in five days, has increased his lead on Republican Michael Whatley to 49%-42% in a poll reflecting North Carolinians’ choice for

 

 

 

 

[ ![Polls: Voters’ money No. 1 campaign topic, and more of them trust Democrats](https://thewilmingtonstandard.com/images/joomgrabber/2026-05/539752d143.jpeg) ](https://thewilmingtonstandard.com/north-carolina-news/polls-voters-money-no-1-campaign-topic-and-more-of-them-trust-democrats)

 By Alan Wooten | The Center Square

(The Center Square) – Inflation and the cost of living is easily the No. 1 choice for the top issue in the 2026 midterms for North Carolinians according to one poll, and