How the poll was reported
5 of 6 stated across the articles in this entry.
- The articles describe a sampled poll rather than an opt-in one.
- Pollster: Elon University Poll.
- Who was sampled: North Carolina adults; likely voters defined as those who said it is 'absolutely certain' or 'very likely' they will vote.
- Sample size: 800 North Carolina adults.
- Margin of error: 5.6 percentage points for likely voters.
- When conducted: August 21-31, 2026.
- Commissioned by: not stated in any article.
- Question wording published: not in any article.
This lists what the articles said and did not say. A detail missing here may appear in the pollster's own release; it was not in the coverage.
4independent outlets
What happened, for context
An Elon University poll released in early September 2026 shows Democratic former North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper leading Republican Michael Whatley by 11 percentage points (49% to 38%) among likely voters in the race for North Carolina's open U.S. Senate seat. The poll finds undecided voters and third-party support have increased compared to a previous Elon poll from late July.
3 of 4 articles were readable. Headline only, no body text retrieved, for: wcnc.com. Nothing below is drawn from those outlets beyond their headline.
Who reported it
- elon.eduUNCLASSIFIED
- wcnc.comINDEP
- wral.comINDEP
- wxii12.comINDEP
References
- elon.eduCooper maintains double-digit lead in North Carolina U.S. Senate raceScreenshot as publishedOriginalcaptured 2026-09-11T11:31:37
- wcnc.comCooper holds double-digit lead over Whatley in NC Senate race, latest Elon poll showsScreenshot as publishedOriginalcaptured 2026-09-11T11:31:37
- wral.comCooper maintains 11-point lead over Whatley as undecided voters increase, new Elon poll showsScreenshot as publishedOriginalcaptured 2026-09-11T11:31:37
- wxii12.comElon Poll shows Cooper still holds double digit lead in NC Senate raceScreenshot as publishedOriginalcaptured 2026-09-11T11:31:37
Carried by multiple outlets
- Cooper leads Whatley by 11 percentage points among likely voters (49% to 38%)elon.edu, wral.com, wxii12.com
- The poll surveyed 800 North Carolina adultselon.edu, wral.com, wxii12.com
- The poll was conducted August 21-31, 2026elon.edu, wral.com, wxii12.com
- The margin of error for likely voters is 5.6 percentage pointselon.edu, wral.com, wxii12.com
- Among likely voters, 8% were undecidedelon.edu, wral.com, wxii12.com
- Libertarian Shannon Bray was favored by 2% of likely voterselon.edu, wral.com
- and 6 more, not shown
Reported by one outlet only
- Seventy-two percent of poll respondents said they are registered to vote in North Carolina, with 63% of those registered voters saying it is absolutely certain they will vote in November and another 20% saying it is very likely they will voteonly elon.edu
- Michael Whatley stated during an appearance Wednesday night in Dallas, Texas: 'When it comes to keeping our kids and communities safe, Roy Cooper was the worst governor in the history of North Carolina'only wxii12.com
- Cooper's campaign responded in a statement arguing that Whatley remains focused on Washington insiders rather than North Carolina votersonly wxii12.com
- Elon University political science professor Jason Husser said 54 days remained before the midterm elections at the time of the article's reportingonly wxii12.com
- Elon University political science professor Jason Husser stated that Whatley is 'still not having great success in making voters across the state highly familiar with him'only wxii12.com
- Elon University political science professor Jason Husser attributed economic concerns as a factor working against Whatley, noting that President Trump ran a successful campaign in North Carolina in 2024 by winning the majority of voters who thought the economy was the top issueonly wxii12.com