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| Turnout | 75.35% | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Cooper: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90% >90% Forest: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90% >90% Tie: 40–50% | |||||||||||||||||
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The2020 North Carolina gubernatorial election was held on November 3, 2020, to elect thegovernor of North Carolina, concurrently with the2020 U.S. presidential election, as well aselections to one-third of theUnited States Senate and elections to theUnited States House of Representatives and variousstate and local elections.Democratic incumbentRoy Cooper was re-elected to a second term, defeatingRepublican lieutenant governorDan Forest. Cooper became the first North Carolina governor to win re-election sinceMike Easley in2004. He also outperformed other Democrats on the ballot and was the only Democrat to win a gubernatorial race in a state carried byDonald Trump in2020. With a margin of 4.51%, this election was the second closest of the2020 gubernatorial election cycle afterPuerto Rico and the closest in a U.S. state.
| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size[a] | Margin of error | Roy Cooper | Ernest Reeves | Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High Point University[3] | February 21–28, 2020 | 269 (LV) | – | 74% | 13% | 13% |
| 468 (RV) | – | 68% | 14% | 18% | ||
| SurveyUSA/WRAL-TV[4] | February 13–16, 2020 | 698 (LV) | ± 4.9% | 73% | 9% | 18% |
| High Point University[5] | January 31 – February 6, 2020 | 198 (LV) | – | 80% | 8% | 12% |
| 400 (RV) | – | 69% | 10% | 21% |

| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Roy Cooper (incumbent) | 1,128,829 | 87.19% | |
| Democratic | Ernest T. Reeves | 165,804 | 12.81% | |
| Total votes | 1,294,633 | 100.00% | ||
Executive branch officials
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| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size[a] | Margin of error | Dan Forest | Holly Grange | Pat McCrory | Undecided | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High Point University[14] | February 21–28, 2020 | 246 (LV) | – | 74% | 13% | – | 13% | |||||||||
| 443 (RV) | – | 64% | 12% | – | 24% | |||||||||||
| SurveyUSA/WRAL-TV[4] | February 13–16, 2020 | 698 (LV) | ± 5.0% | 60% | 8% | – | 32% | |||||||||
| High Point University[15] | January 31 – February 6, 2020 | 198 (LV) | – | 67% | 8% | – | 25% | |||||||||
| 400 (RV) | – | 54% | 10% | – | 36% | |||||||||||
| December 19, 2019 | McCrory announces he will not run | |||||||||||||||
| Harper Polling (R)[16] | December 2–4, 2019 | 500 (LV) | ± 4.38% | 31% | 3% | 42% | 25% | |||||||||

| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Dan Forest | 698,077 | 88.95% | |
| Republican | Holly Grange | 86,714 | 11.05% | |
| Total votes | 784,791 | 100.00% | ||
| Source | Ranking | As of |
|---|---|---|
| The Cook Political Report[19] | Likely D | October 23, 2020 |
| Inside Elections[20] | Lean D | October 28, 2020 |
| Sabato's Crystal Ball[21] | Likely D | November 2, 2020 |
| Politico[22] | Lean D | November 2, 2020 |
| Daily Kos[23] | Likely D | October 28, 2020 |
| RCP[24] | Lean D | November 2, 2020 |
| 270towin[25] | Likely D | November 2, 2020 |
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A debate between Cooper and Forest occurred 7:00 pmEDT, October 14, 2020.[32]
| Dates | Location | Cooper | Forest | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| October 14, 2020 | Raleigh, North Carolina | Participant | Participant | Full debate[33] -C-SPAN |
This graph was using thelegacy Graph extension, which is no longer supported. It needs to be converted to thenew Chart extension. |
| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Roy Cooper (D) | Dan Forest (R) | Other / Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Swayable[34] | October 27 – November 1, 2020 | 655 (LV) | ± 5.5% | 55% | 43% | 2%[b] |
| Frederick Polls (D)[35][A] | October 30–31, 2020 | 676 (LV) | ± 3.7% | 52% | 45% | 3%[c] |
| Emerson College[36] | October 29–31, 2020 | 855 (LV) | ± 3.3% | 55%[d] | 45% | 1%[e] |
| CNN/SSRS[37] | October 23–30, 2020 | 901 (LV) | ± 4% | 52% | 42% | 5%[f] |
| East Carolina University[38] | October 27–28, 2020 | 1,103 (LV) | ± 3.4% | 54%[g] | 43% | 2%[h] |
| Cardinal Point Analytics (R)[39] | October 27–28, 2020 | 750 (LV) | ± 3.6% | 47% | 45% | 8%[i] |
| Marist College/NBC[40] | October 25–28, 2020 | 800 (LV) | ± 4.7% | 59% | 40% | 1%[j] |
| Gravis Marketing[41] | October 26–27, 2020 | 614 (LV) | ± 4% | 51% | 43% | 6%[k] |
| Meeting Street Insights (R)[42] | October 24–27, 2020 | 600 (LV) | ± 4% | 51% | 43% | – |
| Siena College/NYT Upshot[43] | October 23–27, 2020 | 1,034 (LV) | ± 3.4% | 51% | 42% | 7%[l] |
| RMG Research[44] | October 24–26, 2020 | 800 (LV) | ± 3.5% | 53% | 41% | 6%[m] |
| Swayable[45] | October 23–26, 2020 | 386 (LV) | ± 6.9% | 53% | 44% | 3%[n] |
| SurveyUSA/WRAL-TV[46] | October 23–26, 2020 | 627 (LV) | ± 4.9% | 53% | 42% | 6%[o] |
| YouGov/UMass Amherst[47] | October 20–26, 2020 | 911 (LV) | ± 4.2% | 54% | 42% | 3%[p] |
| Harper Polling/Civitas (R)[48] | October 22–25, 2020 | 504 (LV) | ± 4.4% | 52% | 42% | 5%[q] |
| Meredith College[49] | October 16–19, 2020 | 732 (LV) | ± 3.5% | 52% | 34% | 16%[r] |
| East Carolina University[50] | October 15–18, 2020 | 1,155 (LV) | ± 3.4% | 53% | 44% | 2%[s] |
| Emerson College[51] | October 13–14, 2020 | 721 (LV) | ± 3.6% | 50% | 46% | 4%[t] |
| Civiqs/Daily Kos[52] | October 11–14, 2020 | 1,211 (LV) | ± 3.3% | 53% | 46% | 1%[u] |
| Siena College/NYT Upshot[53] | October 9–13, 2020 | 627 (LV) | ± 4.5% | 51% | 37% | 12%[v] |
| Monmouth University[54] | October 8–11, 2020 | 500 (RV) | ± 4.4% | 51% | 44% | 5%[w] |
| 500 (LV)[x] | 52% | 44% | 3%[y] | |||
| 500 (LV)[z] | 51% | 46% | 3%[aa] | |||
| SurveyUSA[55] | October 8–11, 2020 | 669 (LV) | ± 4.8% | 52% | 39% | 10%[ab] |
| RMG Research[56] | October 7–11, 2020 | 800 (LV) | – | 51% | 37% | 12%[ac] |
| Public Policy Polling[57] | October 4–5, 2020 | 911 (V) | ± 3.3% | 52% | 40% | 8%[ad] |
| East Carolina University[58] | October 2–4, 2020 | 1,232 (LV) | ± 3.2% | 53% | 40% | 7%[ae] |
| ALG Research (D)[59][B] | September 22–28, 2020 | 822 (V) | – | 53% | 43% | – |
| YouGov/UMass Lowell[60] | September 18–25, 2020 | 921 (LV) | ± 4.1% | 54% | 41% | 4%[af] |
| Meredith College[61] | September 18–22, 2020 | 705 (RV) | ± 3.5% | 50% | 39% | 11%[ag] |
| Harper Polling/Civitas (R)[62] | September 17–20, 2020 | 612 (LV) | ± 3.96% | 46% | 39% | 14%[ah] |
| Siena College/NYT Upshot[63] | September 11–16, 2020 | 653 (LV) | ± 4.3% | 47% | 42% | 10%[ai] |
| Redfield & Wilton Strategies[64] | September 12–15, 2020 | 1,092 (LV) | ± 2.97% | 55% | 36% | 9%[aj] |
| Suffolk University[65] | September 10–14, 2020 | 500 (LV) | ± 4.4% | 50% | 38% | 12%[ak] |
| SurveyUSA[66] | September 10–13, 2020 | 596 (LV) | ± 5.6% | 49% | 42% | 10%[al] |
| CNN/SSRS[67] | September 9–13, 2020 | 787 (LV) | ± 4.4% | 53% | 44% | 2%[am] |
| 893 (RV) | ± 4.1% | 53% | 42% | 5%[an] | ||
| Kaiser Family Foundation/Cook Political Report[68] | August 29 – September 13, 2020 | 1,116 (RV) | – | 48% | 38% | 14%[ao] |
| Redfield & Wilton Strategies[69] | August 30 – September 3, 2020 | 951 (LV) | ± 3.18% | 54% | 35% | 11%[ap] |
| Monmouth University[70] | August 29 – September 1, 2020 | 401 (RV) | ± 4.9% | 51% | 40% | 8%[aq] |
| 401 (LV)[ar] | 51% | 42% | 7%[as] | |||
| 401 (LV)[at] | 51% | 42% | 7%[as] | |||
| East Carolina University[71] | August 29–30, 2020 | 1,101 (LV) | ± 3.4% | 50% | 40% | 10%[au] |
| Redfield and Wilton Strategies[72] | August 16–19, 2020 | 967 (LV) | ± 3.2% | 51% | 38% | 11%[av] |
| East Carolina University[73] | August 12–13, 2020 | 1,255 (RV) | ± 3.2% | 52% | 38% | 11%[aw] |
| Emerson College[74] | August 8–10, 2020 | 673 (LV) | ± 3.8% | 50% | 44% | 7%[ax] |
| Harper Polling/Civitas (R)[75] | August 6–10, 2020 | 600 (LV) | ± 4.0% | 49% | 39% | 13%[ay] |
| Public Policy Polling (D)[76][C] | July 23–24, 2020 | 884 (V) | ± 3.4% | 53% | 42% | 5%[az] |
| Cardinal Point Analytics (R)[77] | July 22–24, 2020 | 735 (LV) | ± 3.6% | 46% | 46% | 8%[ba] |
| Redfield & Wilton Strategies[78] | July 19–23, 2020 | 919 (LV) | ± 3.2% | 51% | 37% | 12%[bb] |
| Marist College/NBC News[79] | July 14–22, 2020 | 882 (RV) | ± 4.0% | 58% | 38% | 4%[bc] |
| Cardinal Point Analytics (R)[80] | July 13–15, 2020 | 547 (LV) | ± 4.2% | 49% | 46% | 5%[bd] |
| East Carolina University[81] | June 22–25, 2020 | 1,149 (RV) | ± 3.4% | 49% | 38% | 13%[be] |
| Public Policy Polling[82] | June 22–23, 2020 | 1,157 (V) | ± 2.9% | 50% | 41% | 10%[bf] |
| NYT Upshot/Siena College[83] | June 8–18, 2020 | 653 (RV) | ± 4.1% | 50% | 39% | 11%[bg] |
| Gravis Marketing (R)[84] | June 17, 2020 | 631 (RV) | ± 3.9% | 46% | 46% | 8% |
| Redfield & Wilton Strategies[85] | June 14–17, 2020 | 902 (LV) | ± 3.6% | 52% | 31% | 17%[bh] |
| Public Policy Polling[86] | June 2–3, 2020 | 913 | ± 3.2% | 50% | 39% | 11%[bi] |
| Harper Polling/Civitas (R)[87] | May 26–28, 2020 | 500 (LV) | ± 4.4% | 49% | 37% | 14%[bj] |
| Neighbourhood Research & Media[88] | May 12–21, 2020 | 391 (LV) | – | 47% | 35% | 18% |
| Meeting Street Insights (R)[89] | May 9–13, 2020 | 500 (RV) | – | 55% | 37% | 8% |
| East Carolina University[90] | May 7–9, 2020 | 1,111 (RV) | ± 3.4% | 51% | 36% | 13% |
| Civiqs/Daily Kos[91] | May 2–4, 2020 | 1,362 (RV) | ± 3.0% | 53% | 44% | 3% |
| Meredith College[92] | April 27–28, 2020 | 604 (RV) | ± 4.0% | 52% | 32% | 16% |
| SurveyUSA[93] | April 23–26, 2020 | 580 (LV) | ± 5.4% | 57% | 30% | 13%[bk] |
| Public Policy Polling[94] | April 20–21, 2020 | 1,275 (V) | ± 3.2% | 53% | 40% | 7% |
| Garin-Hart-Yang Research (D)[95] | April 13–18, 2020 | 800 (LV) | ± 3.5% | 55% | 36% | 9% |
| Public Policy Polling[96] | April 14–15, 2020 | 1,318 (V) | ± 3.4% | 50% | 36% | 13% |
| Harper Polling/Civitas (R)[97] | April 5–7, 2020 | 500 (LV) | ± 4.4% | 50% | 33% | 17% |
| East Carolina University[98] | February 27–28, 2020 | 1,288 (RV) | ± 3.2% | 49% | 41% | 10% |
| Harper Polling/Civitas (R)[99] | October 15–17, 2019 | 500 (LV) | ± 4.4% | 46% | 36% | 18% |
| Meredith College[100] | September 29 – October 7, 2019 | 996 (RV) | ± 3.0% | 46% | 33% | 21% |
| Harper Polling/Civitas (R)[101] | August 1–4, 2019 | 500 (LV) | ± 4.4% | 48% | 36% | 16% |
| Public Policy Polling[102] | June 17–18, 2019 | 610 (RV) | ± 4.0% | 45% | 41% | 14% |
| Harper Polling (R)[103] | June 8–10, 2019 | 500 (LV) | ± 4.4% | 47% | 37% | 16% |
| Emerson College[104] | May 31 – June 3, 2019 | 932 (RV) | ± 3.1% | 52% | 38% | 10% |
| Spry Strategies (R)[105][D] | May 25 – June 1, 2019 | 730 (LV) | ± 3.5% | 40% | 44% | 16% |
| Public Policy Polling[106] | January 4–7, 2019 | 750 (RV) | ± 3.6% | 47% | 35% | 18% |
with Holly Grange
| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Roy Cooper (D) | Holly Grange (R) | Other / Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| East Carolina University[98] | February 27–28, 2020 | 1,288 (RV) | ± 3.2% | 49% | 33% | 18% |
| Harper Polling/Civitas (R)[107] | October 15–17, 2019 | 500 (LV) | ± 4.4% | 46% | 27% | 27% |
| Harper Polling/Civitas (R)[101] | August 1–4, 2019 | 500 (LV) | ± 4.4% | 48% | 30% | 22% |
with Phil Berger
| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Roy Cooper (D) | Phil Berger (R) | Other / Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public Policy Polling[102] | June 17–18, 2019 | 610 (RV) | ± 4.0% | 46% | 39% | 16% |
| Public Policy Polling[106] | January 4–7, 2019 | 750 (RV) | ± 3.6% | 48% | 34% | 18% |
with Pat McCrory
| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Roy Cooper (D) | Pat McCrory (R) | Other / Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harper Polling/Civitas (R)[108] | October 15–17, 2019 | 500 (LV) | ± 4.4% | 44% | 38% | 18% |
| Harper Polling/Civitas (R)[101] | August 1–4, 2019 | 500 (LV) | ± 4.4% | 47% | 38% | 14% |
| Public Policy Polling[106] | January 4–7, 2019 | 750 (RV) | ± 3.6% | 45% | 41% | 14% |
with Tim Moore
| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Roy Cooper (D) | Tim Moore (R) | Other / Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public Policy Polling[102] | June 17–18, 2019 | 610 (RV) | ± 4.0% | 46% | 38% | 16% |
| Public Policy Polling[106] | January 4–7, 2019 | 750 (RV) | ± 3.6% | 46% | 32% | 22% |
withThom Tillis
| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Roy Cooper (D) | Thom Tillis (R) | Other / Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public Policy Polling[106] | January 4–7, 2019 | 750 (RV) | ± 3.6% | 46% | 37% | 17% |
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Roy Cooper (incumbent) | 2,834,790 | 51.52% | +2.50% | |
| Republican | Dan Forest | 2,586,605 | 47.01% | −1.79% | |
| Libertarian | Steven J. DiFiore | 60,449 | 1.10% | −1.09% | |
| Constitution | Al Pisano | 20,934 | 0.38% | N/A | |
| Total votes | 5,502,778 | 100.00% | N/A | ||
| Turnout | 5,545,847 | 75.35% | |||
| Registered electors | 7,359,798 | ||||
| Democratichold | |||||
Despite winning a majority of the popular vote, Cooper only won five of 13 congressional districts.[111]
| District | Forest | Cooper | Representative |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 42.6% | 56.4% | G. K. Butterfield |
| 2nd | 31.4% | 67.0% | Deborah K. Ross |
| 3rd | 58.5% | 40.0% | Greg Murphy |
| 4th | 29.9% | 68.8% | David Price |
| 5th | 63.5% | 35.2% | Virginia Foxx |
| 6th | 34.2% | 64.2% | Kathy Manning |
| 7th | 54.5% | 44.0% | David Rouzer |
| 8th | 49.2% | 49.0% | Richard Hudson |
| 9th | 50.3% | 48.4% | Dan Bishop |
| 10th | 63.7% | 35.0% | Patrick McHenry |
| 11th | 52.2% | 46.3% | Madison Cawthorn |
| 12th | 27.0% | 71.0% | Alma Adams |
| 13th | 62.9% | 35.9% | Ted Budd |
Voter demographic data was collected byCNN. The voter survey is based onexit polls. There were 4,557 total respondents.[112]
| Demographic subgroup | Cooper | Forest | % of total vote |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ideology | |||
| Liberals | 94 | 5 | 20 |
| Moderates | 69 | 29 | 39 |
| Conservatives | 13 | 86 | 40 |
| Party | |||
| Democrats | 97 | 2 | 34 |
| Republicans | 8 | 92 | 37 |
| Independents | 54 | 42 | 30 |
| Age | |||
| 18–24 years old | 57 | 41 | 8 |
| 25–29 years old | 54 | 39 | 6 |
| 30–39 years old | 59 | 41 | 14 |
| 40–49 years old | 55 | 43 | 16 |
| 50–64 years old | 48 | 50 | 31 |
| 65 and older | 46 | 53 | 24 |
| Gender | |||
| Men | 47 | 51 | 44 |
| Women | 55 | 43 | 56 |
| Race/ethnicity | |||
| White | 36 | 63 | 65 |
| Black | 92 | 7 | 23 |
| Latino | 59 | 38 | 5 |
| Asian | N/A | N/A | 2 |
| Other | 56 | 39 | 5 |
| Gender by race | |||
| White men | 33 | 66 | 29 |
| White women | 39 | 60 | 36 |
| Black men | 92 | 8 | 9 |
| Black women | 93 | 6 | 14 |
| Latino men | 45 | 53 | 3 |
| Latino women | 75 | 22 | 3 |
| Other racial/ethnic groups | 54 | 42 | 7 |
| Education | |||
| Never attendedcollege | 41 | 58 | 18 |
| Some college education | 45 | 53 | 27 |
| Associate degree | 50 | 46 | 18 |
| Bachelor's degree degree | 58 | 41 | 22 |
| Postgraduate | 68 | 31 | 14 |
| Education by race | |||
| White college graduated | 54 | 45 | 26 |
| White no college degree | 24 | 74 | 39 |
| Non-white college graduates | 82 | 17 | 11 |
| Non-white no college degree | 79 | 19 | 25 |
| Education by gender/race | |||
| White women with college degrees | 59 | 41 | 15 |
| White women without college degrees | 24 | 74 | 21 |
| White men with college degrees | 48 | 52 | 11 |
| White men without college degrees | 24 | 75 | 18 |
| Non-white | 80 | 18 | 35 |
| Income | |||
| Under $30K | 53 | 45 | 15 |
| $30K-$50k | 55 | 43 | 22 |
| $50k-$100k | 50 | 47 | 36 |
| $100k-$200k | 48 | 51 | 22 |
| $200k or more | 48 | 52 | 5 |
| Issue regarded as most important | |||
| Racial inequality | 94 | 4 | 21 |
| Health care policy | 65 | 32 | 12 |
| Economy | 20 | 78 | 35 |
| COVID-19 pandemic | 84 | 15 | 14 |
| Crime and safety | 14 | 83 | 12 |
| Region | |||
| East | 48 | 51 | 23 |
| Raleigh-Durham Triangle | 65 | 34 | 22 |
| Charlotte Area | 57 | 42 | 18 |
| Piedmont/Central | 48 | 50 | 20 |
| West | 38 | 60 | 17 |
| Area type | |||
| Urban | 71 | 28 | 33 |
| Suburban | 43 | 56 | 40 |
| Rural | 42 | 55 | 27 |
Partisan clients
General
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