This presentation summarizes a January 31 to February 4, 2026 survey of 1,069 North Carolina voters conducted statewide.
The findings show Donald Trump is underwater in the state, with 55 percent holding an unfavorable view and 55 percent disapproving of his job performance, while Governor Josh Stein is viewed positively and trusted more than the Republican legislature to govern fairly.
In the 2026 U.S. Senate race, Roy Cooper leads Michael Whatley 50 percent to 40 percent, and Democrats hold a slight edge on the generic state legislative ballot, though structural challenges remain. Voters express deep dissatisfaction with the direction of the country and the state, broad distrust in institutions, and significant concern about rising costs. Majorities oppose recent federal immigration actions in North Carolina and reject the idea of unchecked federal power. Looking ahead, the state remains highly competitive for 2028, with voters evenly split between Democratic and Republican presidential nominees, underscoring North Carolina’s continued status as a pivotal swing state.
Polling was conducted online from January 31-February 4th, 2026. Using Dynamic Online Sampling to attain a representative sample, Change Research polled 1069 voters in North Carolina. View the toplines, crosstabs, and methodology.