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Michael Whatley
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- 1Whatley dismisses poll showing Cooper leading Senate race●Whatley blasts 'trash poll' for showing big Cooper lead in U.S. Senate race
North Carolina Republican Senate candidate Michael Whatley attacked a new poll as a 'trash poll' after it showed Democrat Roy Cooper with a large lead in the state's U.S. Senate race. The comments highlight early tension in what is expected to be one of the most competitive and expensive Senate contests of the 2026 midterm cycle, with both parties treating North Carolina as a key battleground.