North Carolina Early Voting Surges Ahead of Midterm Elections

Early voting for the 2026 midterm elections in North Carolina has seen a substantial increase over 2022 totals. Reports indicate between 525,970 and 733,000 ballots have been cast, representing a surge of 37% to 38%. This growth is driven primarily by unaffiliated voters, up 75%, and Democratic voters, up 69%, while Republican early voting has declined by 3%.

Donald Trump visited Greenville, North Carolina, for a rally at the Greenville-Pitt Airport to support Republican candidates, including Laurie Buckhout in the competitive 1st Congressional District. High-profile contests include a U.S. Senate race between Michael Whatley and Roy Cooper, and a toss-up for the 11th Congressional District between Jennifer Balkcom and Jamie Ager.

At the state level, the November 3 general election will determine if Republicans retain a supermajority in the North Carolina General Assembly. A key battle is occurring in District 105, where Republican Representative Tricia Cotham is running for re-election against former Matthews town councilman Ken McCool. Cotham previously shifted the balance of power in the state House after switching from the Democratic to the Republican Party in 2023. Early in-person voting continues through October 31.