Voter interest in North Carolina’s 2026 midterm primaries has led to a record turnout for early voting, exceeding numbers from the 2024 presidential primary. North Carolina State Board of Elections data showed over 710,000 early ballots cast, surpassing the 2022 and 2024 figures. The increase is primarily due to heightened participation among Democrats, while Republican turnout saw a slight decline.
Political scientist Chris Cooper from Western Carolina University noted that Democratic voters appear more motivated than Republicans. More than 296,000 Democrats, over 215,000 unaffiliated voters, and roughly 200,000 Republicans have cast their votes early. Among unaffiliated voters, approximately 55% have chosen the Democratic ballot, reflecting a shift from the 2022 midterms when most favored Republican candidates.
The Democratic voter increase is partly attributed to opposition to policies from the Trump administration. As North Carolina’s registration grew to 7.7 million by Feb. 28, early voting participation rose from about 8% in 2022 to over 9% in 2026. Specifically, Democratic early turnout increased from 9.5% to 12.8%, with unaffiliated voter turnout rising from 6.1% to 7.1%.
A key race to watch is in the Republican state Senate primary, where Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Berger faces a strong challenge from Rockingham Sheriff Sam Page. The primary’s majority early vote originates from Rockingham County, with Berger reportedly trailing in polls.
While early voting trends are significant, Cooper cautioned about interpreting turnout solely by raw numbers due to the state’s growing population.
