---
title: North Carolina's Widening Gap - August 14, 2026
description: A new poll shows Whatley trailing Cooper in NC's Senate race, with 15% of Trump voters ready to cross over.
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date: 2026-08-14T11:36:01Z
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![Republicans Voting For Democrats](https://thewilmingtonstandard.com/images/daily_update/2026/august/aug14/aug142026-article.png)Republicans – what the heck is wrong with you?

This is the Wilmington Standard Daily Update for Friday August 14, 2026.

The [John Locke Foundation and the Carolina Journal](https://www.carolinajournal.com/cj-poll-cooper-stretches-lead-over-whatley-in-us-senate-race/) released its long awaited poll yesterday. In the Senate race, the results are incredibly discouraging for Michael Whatley who trails former Governor Roy Cooper 52% to 39%. Governor Cooper’s numbers have grown consistently in every poll.

Here is the worst part. According to the poll:

Whatley has the support of 85% of voters who backed Donald Trump in 2024, while Cooper has the support of 95% of Kamala Harris 2024 voters.

In other words, 15% of those who turned out for Trump in 2024 have decided to vote for either a Democrat or someone else who will do everything in his power to destroy everything the President has worked hard to accomplish over the last two years.

Again – what are you thinking?

Do you honestly believe that a Democrat – especially one as left leaning as Roy Cooper – is going to work to enforce the border, keep taxes low, or protect against the terrorism of Iran and other Islamic countries? Do you truly believe any Democrat has any intention to protect the unborn, protect women in sports, and to protect our children from predators? Roy Cooper’s track record on any of these issues is horrible – and yet [you as a Republican are going to vote for him](https://thewilmingtonstandard.com/north-carolina-news/election-2026-top-prediction-markets-have-cooper-about-90?highlight=WyJ2b3RlciJd)?

You say you don’t like Trump. You say you are sick of the war with Iran. You say you disagree with tariffs being used as foreign policy. You might even pull out the old chestnut of Orange Man Bad Mean Tweets.

At the same time, however, this poll shows overwhelming support for voter ID laws, transparency in government, affordable electricity, and banning homeless encampments. All of these are Republican and Conservative ideas, yet up to 9% of Republicans in our state would vote for the Democrat candidate.

Republicans and Conservatives, it is time for a gut check in North Carolina. A Democrat-controlled Senate would be disastrous for our country and our state. No amount of disagreement with the decisions that President Trump has made in office can change this simple truth. Roy Cooper is the party of [Zohran Mamdani](https://thewilmingtonstandard.com/north-carolina-news/election-2026-warren-supporter-of-mamdani-socialist-view-stumps-for-cooper), Abdul El-Sayad, Chuck Schumer, Elizabeth Warren, Illhan Omar and Joe Biden.

Do you honestly think they can do better?

For the Wilmington Standard, I’m Reuel Sample. Thanks for listening.