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U.S. Senate: what did each candidate actually say they'd do?

IN PLAIN ENGLISH

Roy Cooper (D), a former governor, ran against Michael Whatley (R), a former chair of the Republican National Committee. Libertarian Shannon W. Bray and Green Party candidate Michael Dublin were also on the ballot. With all precincts reporting, Cooper leads by 824,875 votes. Results are unofficial until certified. Below is what each one's own campaign website said they'd do, checked the same way.

Cooper leadsAll counties reporting; unofficial until certified1
58.72%Cooper (D): 2,467,9631
39.09%Whatley (R): 1,643,0881
1.33%Bray (Libertarian): 55,7261
0.87%Dublin (Green): 36,4041
824,875Vote margin of 4,203,181 cast1

Do they have a plan?

We read every issue on each candidate's own website and checked the same six things for every one. We count what's there. We don't grade whether the ideas are good. Read the full scoring rules

Of the issues on their website, how many...Shannon W. BrayRoy CooperMichael DublinMichael Whatley
Names a policy7 of 15
5 of 5
7 of 7
2 of 6
Says how they'd do it1 of 15
1 of 5
2 of 7
0 of 6
Includes a number or target0 of 15
0 of 5
3 of 7
0 of 6
Says how it's paid for0 of 15
0 of 5
1 of 7
0 of 6
Gives a timeline0 of 15
0 of 5
0 of 7
0 of 6
Points to a record0 of 15
1 of 5
1 of 7
1 of 6

The candidates, side by side

Each topic shows every candidate's own words on it, in alphabetical order, from their own website. "Nothing on this topic" means their site doesn't cover it. Topic rows are grouped by us from their headings; the scores don't change.

Shannon W. BrayLibertarian
Roy CooperDemocrat
Michael DublinGreen Party
Michael WhatleyRepublican
Who they are
Shannon W. Bray
Navy veteran and cybersecurity professional. His home page also lists "Government Accountability" and "National Security" cards, but both pages returned "Page not found" when saved, so they were not scored.33
Roy Cooper
former governor and attorney general. A 2019 Internet Archive copy of his old governor-campaign /issues page also sits in the archive; it is not on his current site and was not scored.
Michael Dublin
retired public school teacher. His site's web address (dublinforcongress.com) was reused from an earlier House run; its pages are written for this Senate race.
Michael Whatley
former chair of the Republican National Committee
Guns
Shannon W. Bray
Nothing on this topic
Roy Cooper
Nothing on this topic
Michael Dublin
Nothing on this topic
Michael Whatley
Protect Our Conservative Values"From defending Second Amendment rights, to protecting life, supporting our law enforcement, and keeping radical woke ideology out of schools, I will fight night and day against the Left's agenda."9
None of the six checks
Immigration and the border
Shannon W. Bray
Immigration & Borders"Enforcing existing immigration laws" and "Streamlining legal immigration."19
None of the six checks
Roy Cooper
Nothing on this topic
Michael Dublin
Immigrants' Rights"I support abolishing ICE and getting rid of immigrant detention centers and deportations. I stand for immediate, unconditional legalization and equal rights for all undocumented immigrants."29
Names a policy
Michael Whatley
Fight Illegal Immigration"I am 100% supportive of President Trump securing the border and deporting the millions of criminal illegal aliens that Joe Biden and Roy Cooper allowed into this country."9
Names a policy
Health care
Shannon W. Bray
Healthcare"Expanding Health Savings Accounts (HSAs)" and "Repealing top-down federal healthcare mandates."17
Names a policy
Roy Cooper
Making Health Care Affordable"Reinstate the ACA tax credits and reverse Medicaid cuts." Also: "Cap out-of-network charges for non-emergency care so that staying out-of-network isn't a business strategy for health care companies, and designate emergency ground ambulance services as an essential health benefit" and "Prevent medical debt by mandating hospitals auto-enroll in charity care". Record: "expanding Medicaid and helping hundreds of thousands of working North Carolinians get access to health insurance."4, 2
Names a policySays how they'd do itPoints to a record
Michael Dublin
Nothing on this topic
Michael Whatley
Nothing on this topic
Housing
Shannon W. Bray
Nothing on this topic
Roy Cooper
Lowering Housing Costs"Provide incentives for multi-family and modular construction to build more housing quickly and lower costs for families." Also: "Stop companies from using revenue-maximization software that allows landlords to raise the rent on tenants in coordination."7
Names a policy
Michael Dublin
Nothing on this topic
Michael Whatley
Nothing on this topic
Schools and education
Shannon W. Bray
Education & Workforce"Reducing federal control over education" and "Encouraging parental choice and local decision-making."16
None of the six checks
Roy Cooper
Nothing on this topic
Michael Dublin
Nothing on this topic
Michael Whatley
Nothing on this topic
Child care and families
Shannon W. Bray
Nothing on this topic
Roy Cooper
Making Child Care Affordable"Expand the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit to support working families and put money back in people's pockets." Also: "Encourage employers to help employees with child care by providing employer tax credits for on-site child care or employee child care subsidies."6
Names a policy
Michael Dublin
Nothing on this topic
Michael Whatley
Nothing on this topic
Energy and environment
Shannon W. Bray
Energy & Environment"Ending market-distorting subsidies" and "Opposing carbon taxes ... Encouraging innovation over mandates."18
Names a policy
Roy Cooper
Lowering Energy & Utility Costs"Ban utility companies from disconnecting power during dangerous heat and cold to keep families safe during periods of extreme weather." Also: "Make sure data centers pay the full cost of all the power they use and prevent costs from being passed on to consumers."5
Names a policy
Michael Dublin
Climate Justice & The Green New Deal"I stand for a Green New Deal featuring a unionized, living-wage green jobs program. I support giving all workers in polluting industries the option of a union job building green infrastructure with no loss of pay, benefits, or seniority." Also: "I stand for a democratically planned transition to 100% renewable energy."29
Names a policySays how they'd do itIncludes a number or target
Michael Whatley
Nothing on this topic
Technology and privacy
Shannon W. Bray
Jobs, Innovation & Technology"Reducing barriers for small businesses" and "Promoting economic freedom and job growth."15
None of the six checks
Election Integrity & Technology"Auditable, secure voting processes" and "Applying cybersecurity best practices."21
None of the six checks
Privacy & Civil Liberties"Ending mass surveillance without probable cause" and "Restoring Fourth Amendment protections."22
None of the six checks
Data Privacy & Ownership"Covered entities must obtain affirmative, purpose-specific consent stating: data categories, purpose (including AI training if applicable), recipient identity, duration, and limits on sharing/reuse." Also: "Upon revocation, covered entities must stop future access and invalidate related authorizations (tokens/keys/permissions)."23
Names a policySays how they'd do it
Digital Assets & Financial Freedom"Opposing intrusive IRS surveillance" and "Clear, fair regulatory frameworks."27
None of the six checks
Roy Cooper
Nothing on this topic
Michael Dublin
Nothing on this topic
Michael Whatley
Nothing on this topic
Disasters and the coast
Shannon W. Bray
Nothing on this topic
Roy Cooper
Nothing on this topic
Michael Dublin
Nothing on this topic
Michael Whatley
Hurricane Recovery"I was tapped by President Trump to serve on the FEMA Review Council to guarantee that disaster responses are dramatically improved..." Record: "So far, I have worked with the Trump administration to deliver more aid for Hurricane Helene recovery than any other recovery project in the history of North Carolina."9
Points to a record
Crime and public safety
Shannon W. Bray
Criminal Justice Reform"Ending civil asset forfeiture without conviction" and "Reducing mandatory minimums for nonviolent offenses."24
Names a policy
Roy Cooper
Nothing on this topic
Michael Dublin
Civil Rights & Justice"I support putting police departments under the control of democratically elected civilian boards with the power to hire, fire, and set budgets." Also: "I support 12 months of paid parental leave and free, high-quality healthcare for all, including gender-affirming treatment and mental health services."29
Names a policySays how they'd do itIncludes a number or target
Economic Justice"I support taxing the rich their fair share to invest in the basic needs of all people." Also: "I stand for taking pharmaceutical companies and for-profit hospitals into democratic public ownership to provide high-quality care at no cost to patients."29
Names a policy
Michael Whatley
Make North Carolina Safe Again"As your U.S. Senator, I'll work with President Trump to restore law and order, roll-back weak Democrat policies like cashless bail, and make North Carolina safe again."11, 9
Names a policy
Taxes, jobs and the economy
Shannon W. Bray
Economy & Taxes"Capping federal spending to slow debt growth" and "Simplifying the tax code to reward work and productivity."13
Names a policy
Monetary Policy & Inflation"Opposition to a government-controlled digital currency" and "Greater transparency and oversight of monetary policy."14
Names a policy
Roy Cooper
Lowering the Cost of Food & Groceries"Ban algorithms on grocery pricing to make it illegal for companies to raise the price of groceries based on a specific customer." Also: "Strengthen antitrust enforcement in grocery retail and food processing to block corporate mergers that reduce competition and raise prices."3
Names a policy
Michael Dublin
Work & Wages"I support raising the federal minimum wage to $25 an hour" with annual cost-of-living adjustments. Also: "I stand for a 32-hour work week with no loss in pay or benefits" and "I support a guaranteed income of $4,000 per month for the unemployed, disabled, elderly, and stay-at-home parents."29
Names a policyIncludes a number or target
Michael Whatley
America First Economy"By practicing fiscal responsibility and unleashing American energy, we can empower American workers, create good-paying jobs, achieve energy independence, and build lasting prosperity for every American." Record: "I led the Presidential Transition's Energy, Environment, and Agriculture teams" and was in charge of "overseeing development of the Administration's Farm Plan and Energy Plan, which helped deliver lower energy prices for families and businesses and a booming agricultural and rural economy."9, 11, 10
None of the six checks
Defense and foreign policy
Shannon W. Bray
Foreign Policy & Defense"Requiring congressional authorization for military action" and "Ending undeclared wars."20
Names a policy
Roy Cooper
Nothing on this topic
Michael Dublin
Peace & Security"I stand for drastically cutting the US military budget and redirecting those funds toward free universal healthcare" and then public education and affordable housing. Also: "I support abolishing NATO and all imperialist alliances."29
Names a policySays how it's paid for
Michael Whatley
Enact the Trump Agenda in the U.S. Senate"I am committed to advancing President Trump's America First agenda as the next U.S. Senator from North Carolina."9
None of the six checks
Rights and freedoms
Shannon W. Bray
Constitutional Rights"Limiting executive overreach" and "Restoring balance among branches of government."25
None of the six checks
Roy Cooper
Nothing on this topic
Michael Dublin
Nothing on this topic
Michael Whatley
Nothing on this topic
How government works
Shannon W. Bray
Property & Local Control"Preventing federal land overreach" and "Respecting state and local authority."26
None of the six checks
Roy Cooper
Nothing on this topic
Michael Dublin
Government Reform"We will fight to get big money out of politics by overturning Citizens United and passing comprehensive campaign finance reform." Record: "Michael is the only candidate in the race who refuses all corporate donations because he stands for the people, not the corporations."30, 31
Names a policyPoints to a record
Michael Whatley
Nothing on this topic
Their record
Shannon W. Bray
  • Navy veteran and cybersecurity professional, by his own account.28 His site lists no elected office.
Roy Cooper
  • Elected Governor in 2016 and re-elected in 2020, and served four consecutive terms as Attorney General, by his own account.8
Michael Dublin
  • Retired public school teacher; a veteran who has led a prison ministry for more than two decades, by his own account.31 His site lists no elected office.
Michael Whatley
  • Chairman of the North Carolina Republican Party and, at President Trump's request, Chairman of the Republican National Committee during the 2024 cycle, by his own account.10 Served as chief of staff to Sen. Elizabeth Dole.10
In their words
Shannon W. Bray

"I believe we can protect people, defend the country, and modernize government without building a surveillance state or surrendering individual liberty."

Shannon W. Bray, campaign site28

"I'm running to bring technical competence, constitutional restraint, and real accountability into those rooms."

Shannon W. Bray, campaign site28
Roy Cooper

"Roy Cooper is running for U.S. Senate to make stuff cost less, starting with the price of food and groceries."

Roy Cooper, campaign site2

"He will take that same common sense bipartisanship to Washington to make health care cost less the way he's done his entire career."

Roy Cooper, campaign site2
Michael Dublin

"I'm not a career politician. I'm an educator and a community activist who believes in putting people, planet, and peace over profits."

Michael Dublin, campaign home page32

"In the U.S. Senate, Michael will be a vote that no donor can buy, because no donor paid for it."

Michael Dublin, campaign site30
Michael Whatley

"I am committed to advancing President Trump's America First agenda as the next U.S. Senator from North Carolina."

Michael Whatley, campaign site9

"America's economic strength depends on reliable, affordable energy and reining in Washington's reckless spending."

Michael Whatley, campaign site9
Where we read it
Shannon W. Bray
Website: shannonbray.us/ (checked 11/5/2026)
Roy Cooper
Website: roycooper.com/ (checked 11/5/2026)
Michael Dublin
Website: dublinforcongress.com/ (checked 11/5/2026)
Michael Whatley
Website: michaelwhatley.com/ (checked 11/5/2026)

The middle

Where they agree

  • Cooper and Dublin both single out data centers. Cooper wants them to "pay the full cost of all the power they use"; Dublin supports "a moratorium on the construction of new data centers."5, 29
  • Cooper and Bray both list price transparency in health care. Cooper: "Increase enforcement on upfront pricing to make health care costs transparent." Bray: "Increasing price transparency."4, 17
  • Bray and Dublin both want fewer overseas military actions. Bray: "Ending undeclared wars." Dublin: "oppose all forms of imperialism and interventionism."20, 30

Where they really split

  • Spending: Whatley wants "reining in Washington's reckless spending." Bray wants "Capping federal spending to slow debt growth." Dublin supports "taxing the rich their fair share to invest in the basic needs of all people."9, 13, 29
  • Health care: Cooper would "Reinstate the ACA tax credits and reverse Medicaid cuts." Bray would work on "Expanding Health Savings Accounts (HSAs)." Dublin stands for "taking pharmaceutical companies and for-profit hospitals into democratic public ownership."4, 17, 29
  • Immigration: Whatley backs "deporting the millions of criminal illegal aliens that Joe Biden and Roy Cooper allowed into this country." Dublin supports "abolishing ICE and getting rid of immigrant detention centers and deportations."9, 29

What each one leaves out

  • Cooper's site has five issue pages, all on costs. Each names a policy and one (health care) spells out how, but none gives a number, funding source or timeline. His record shows on one of the five (health care).2, 4
  • Whatley's 6 issues name a policy on 2 (cashless bail and deportations), spell out how on none, and give no numbers, costs or dates. His record shows on 1 (hurricane recovery). His issues page has no heading on health care or taxes.9, 10
  • Bray names a policy on 7 of 15 issues and spells out how on 1 (data privacy), with no numbers, costs or dates. Dublin names a policy on all 7 sections, spells out how on 2, gives numbers on 3 and a funding source on 1, with no dates.12, 23, 29
Sources (checked 11/5/2026)
  1. NC State Board of Elections results, statewide, unofficial (100% of precincts reporting, last county upload Nov 4, 2026 4:13 PM): er.ncsbe.gov/?election_dt=11/03/2026&county_id=0&office=FED&contest=0
  2. Roy Cooper campaign, Make Stuff Cost Less: roycooper.com/costless/
  3. Roy Cooper campaign, Lowering the Cost of Food & Groceries: roycooper.com/costless/groceries/
  4. Roy Cooper campaign, Making Health Care Affordable: roycooper.com/costless/health-care/
  5. Roy Cooper campaign, Lowering Energy & Utility Costs: roycooper.com/costless/energy/
  6. Roy Cooper campaign, Making Child Care Affordable: roycooper.com/costless/child-care/
  7. Roy Cooper campaign, Lowering Housing Costs: roycooper.com/costless/housing/
  8. Roy Cooper campaign, Meet Roy: roycooper.com/about/
  9. Michael Whatley campaign, Issues: michaelwhatley.com/issues/
  10. Michael Whatley campaign, About: michaelwhatley.com/about/
  11. Michael Whatley campaign, Home: michaelwhatley.com/
  12. Shannon Bray campaign, Issues: shannonbray.us/issues
  13. Shannon Bray campaign, Economy & Taxes: shannonbray.us/_issues_economy
  14. Shannon Bray campaign, Monetary Policy & Inflation: shannonbray.us/_issues_monetary-policy
  15. Shannon Bray campaign, Jobs, Innovation & Technology: shannonbray.us/_issues_jobs-innovation
  16. Shannon Bray campaign, Education & Workforce: shannonbray.us/_issues_education
  17. Shannon Bray campaign, Healthcare: shannonbray.us/_issues_healthcare
  18. Shannon Bray campaign, Energy & Environment: shannonbray.us/_issues_energy
  19. Shannon Bray campaign, Immigration & Borders: shannonbray.us/_issues_immigration
  20. Shannon Bray campaign, Foreign Policy & Defense: shannonbray.us/_issues_foreign-policy
  21. Shannon Bray campaign, Election Integrity & Technology: shannonbray.us/_issues_election-security
  22. Shannon Bray campaign, Privacy & Civil Liberties: shannonbray.us/_issues_privacy
  23. Shannon Bray campaign, Data Privacy & Ownership: shannonbray.us/_issues_data-privacy-ownership
  24. Shannon Bray campaign, Criminal Justice Reform: shannonbray.us/_issues_criminal-justice
  25. Shannon Bray campaign, Constitutional Rights: shannonbray.us/_issues_constitutional-rights
  26. Shannon Bray campaign, Property & Local Control: shannonbray.us/_issues_property-rights
  27. Shannon Bray campaign, Digital Assets & Financial Freedom: shannonbray.us/_issues_digital-assets
  28. Shannon Bray campaign, About: shannonbray.us/about
  29. Michael Dublin campaign, Our Platform: dublinforcongress.com/platform
  30. Michael Dublin campaign, The Four Pillars: dublinforcongress.com/issues
  31. Michael Dublin campaign, Meet Michael: dublinforcongress.com/about
  32. Michael Dublin campaign, Home: dublinforcongress.com/
  33. Shannon Bray campaign, Home: shannonbray.us/