Primary Results: Wake County (NC) Voters Set Key Matchups for November as Cooper, Nickel, and County Commissioner Candidates Advance
South Wake race for N.C. House also takes shape as Winn Decker wins Democratic primary in District 37.
[Note: Results are based on unofficial election returns reported by the North Carolina State Board of Elections (NCSBE) as of 11:22 p.m. on March 3, 2026.]
Holly Springs, NC, Mar. 4, 2026 — Primary voters across Wake County helped determine nominees Tuesday in several consequential races, including U.S. Senate, Congress, county leadership, and local prosecution.
The results set up high-profile general election contests this fall that will influence federal representation, the county’s justice system, and the leadership guiding one of North Carolina’s fastest-growing regions.
Note: Scroll down to see the final tallies for all races.
Cooper and Whatley Advance in U.S. Senate Race
Former North Carolina governor Roy Cooper overwhelmingly won the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate, capturing 92 percent of the vote in a six-candidate field.
Cooper now advances to the general election, where he is expected to face Republican Michael Whatley, who secured the GOP nomination with 64.6 percent of the vote.
The contest is expected to draw national attention, with North Carolina once again emerging as a pivotal battleground state.
Foushee Holds Off Close Challenge in Wake-Area Congressional District
In U.S. House District 4, which includes much of Wake County along with portions of Durham and Orange counties, incumbent Rep. Valerie Foushee narrowly defeated challenger Nida Allam in the Democratic primary.
Foushee received 49.2 percent of the vote compared to 48.2 percent for Allam, a margin of just 1,202 votes statewide.
Given the district’s strong Democratic lean, the primary outcome likely determines who will represent the area in Congress after the general election.
Nickel Wins Democratic Nomination for Wake County District Attorney
Former U.S. Congressman Wiley Nickel captured the Democratic nomination for Wake County District Attorney, winning a three-candidate primary with 49 percent of the vote.
Nickel defeated:
Sherita Walton, who received 30.5 percent
Melanie Shekita, who received 20.5 percent
The position oversees the prosecution of criminal cases across Wake County’s court system. With Wake County trending Democratic in recent election cycles, the primary result positions Nickel as a strong contender in November.
Kushner and Singh Advance in Wake County Commissioner Race
Voters also narrowed the field in the Wake County Board of Commissioners at-large Democratic primary, where the top two vote-getters advance.
The winners were:
Christine Kushner, who received 29.6 percent of the vote
Mona Singh, who received 21.9 percent
Both candidates will move on to the general election in the race for seats on the county’s governing board.
The Wake County Board of Commissioners oversees the county budget, property tax rate, major infrastructure investments, and public services affecting more than one million residents.
South Wake Race: Decker Wins N.C. House District 37 Primary
One of the races with direct implications for South Wake County voters was the Democratic primary for N.C. House District 37.
Winn Decker won the nomination with 50.36 percent of the vote, defeating:
Marcus Gadson — 38.0 percent
Ralph Clements — 11.6 percent
House District 37 covers portions of southwestern Wake County, including communities that have experienced rapid population growth in recent years.
The district will now move toward the general election, with voters deciding who will represent the area in the North Carolina House of Representatives.
Statewide Judicial Primaries Also Decided
Two statewide judicial primaries also produced nominees who will appear on the November ballot.
Michael Byrne won the Republican primary for N.C. Court of Appeals Seat 1 with 51.5 percent of the vote.
Christine Walczyk won the Democratic primary for Court of Appeals Seat 3 with 62.4 percent.
Both races will be decided by voters statewide in the general election.
What Comes Next
The winners of Tuesday’s primaries will now move on to the November general election, where Wake County voters will help decide several offices with significant influence over the region’s future, from federal representation to local governance and criminal justice.
For South Wake residents in communities such as Holly Springs, Apex, and Fuquay-Varina, the races for county leadership and state legislative representation will be among the contests with the most direct local impact.
Primary Results
U.S. Senate (Statewide)
Democratic Primary
Winner
Roy Cooper — 758,808 (92.0%)
Losers
Justin E. Dues — 22,169 (2.7%)
Marcus W. Williams — 20,190 (2.5%)
Daryl Farrow — 9,674 (1.2%)
Orrick Quick — 7,218 (0.9%)
Robert Colon — 6,739 (0.8%)
Republican Primary
Winner
Michael Whatley — 404,199 (64.6%)
Losers
Donald M. (Don) Brown — 97,589 (15.6%)
Thomas Johnson — 35,378 (5.7%)
Michele Morrow — 34,961 (5.6%)
Elizabeth A. Temple — 23,794 (3.8%)
Richard Dansie — 14,929 (2.4%)
Margot Dupre — 14,817 (2.4%)
U.S. House of Representatives
NC-4 Democratic Primary
Winner
Valerie P. Foushee — 61,537 (49.2%)
Losers
Nida Allam — 60,335 (48.2%)
Mary Patterson — 3,253 (2.6%)
N.C. House
N.C. House District 37 Democratic Primary (Wake included)
Winner
Winn Decker — 4,713 (50.4%)
Losers
Marcus Gadson — 3,559 (38.0%)
Ralph Clements — 1,087 (11.6%)
N.C. Courts
Court of Appeals — Seat 01 (Republican Primary)
Winner
Michael C. Byrne — 300,883 (51.5%)
Loser
Matt Smith — 282,853 (48.5%)
Court of Appeals — Seat 03 (Democratic Primary)
Winner
Christine Marie Walczyk — 491,188 (62.4%)
Loser
James Weldon Whalen — 296,590 (37.7%)
Wake County District Attorney (Wake included)
District Attorney District 10 — Democratic Primary
Winner
Wiley Nickel — 64,299 (49.0%)
Losers
Sherita Walton — 39,950 (30.5%)
Melanie Shekita — 26,941 (20.5%)
Wake County Board of Commissioners
Wake County Board of Commissioners At-Large — Democratic Primary (Vote for 2)
Winners (top 2)
Christine Kushner — 68,562 (29.6%)
Mona Singh — 50,604 (21.9%)
Losers
Jonathan Lambert-Melton — 41,695 (18.0%)
Kimberly McGhee — 25,379 (11.0%)
Steve S. Rao — 25,108 (10.9%)
Robert Mitchener, Jr. — 11,529 (5.0%)
Marguerite Creel — 8,635 (3.7%)