NCGA – Early Look at North Carolina State Primaries 2026, Part I – North Carolina Senate
January 5, 2026
2026 is an election year for all 170 seats at the NCGA, and we’re taking an early look at which North Carolina Senators will be facing primaries in March, who are in contested races, and who are running unopposed. This is part 1 of a 2-part Roboro Insights Series, covering the North Carolina Senate. Next week, in part 2, we will be covering the North Carolina House of Representatives.
Arm yourself with these early insights to get a head start on advocacy as you look ahead to the next biennium.
Current Party Count:
The NC Senate is currently made up of 30 Republican and 20 Democratic Members. This gives the Republicans a bare supermajority, which they will lose if Democrats gain one seat in November.
All 50 seats are up for re-election in November 2026.
Key Dates:
December 19, 2025 – Filing deadline to run in a primary.
March 3, 2026 – Primary Elections.
April 21, 2026 – Start of NCGA 2026 Short Session.
May 12, 2026 – Primary Runoff Elections (only occur if first place candidate receives less than 30% of the votes cast).
November 3, 2026 – General Election.
Key Reminders:
Members of the North Carolina Senate serve two-year terms and are not subject to term limits.
North Carolina legislators assume office on January 1 the year after their election, in this case, 2027.
Key Takeaways
14 Districts (out of 50) in NC will hold Primary Elections for the State Senate. Only one district (District 12) is simultaneously holding Democratic and Republican Primaries.
Senator Bobby Hanig (R – District 1) is NOT running for re-election in 2026, so at minimum, 1 new Senate member will be elected in November, to replace his seat. Sen. Hanig is expected to run for the U.S. House District 1 seat.
7 Incumbent Republican Members are in primary races, including the key race to watch for District 26, where Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Berger (R) is facing Rockingham County Sheriff Sam Page (R). More on that below.
2 Incumbent Democratic Members are in primary races – Senators Chitlik (D – District 22) and Lowe (D – District 32).
5 Incumbents will be running unopposed in November, so we expect at minimum, 5 returning Senate members. They are Democratic Senators Murdock (D – District 20), Garrett (D – District 27), Robinson (D – District 28), Mohammed (D – District 38), and Salvador (D – District 39).
Key Primary Race
The most closely watched Senate primary race in North Carolina this March is the contest in District 26 (Guilford and Rockingham Counties), where longtime Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Berger (R) faces challenger Sam Page (R).
Sen. Berger has served in the NCGA for more than 25 years, first elected to the Senate in 2000 and rising to minority leader in 2004 before becoming President Pro Tem in 2011.
Challenging him is Rockingham County Sheriff Sam Page, a Reidsville High School graduate and U.S. Air Force veteran who has served as Sheriff since 1998. Given Sen. Berger’s senior leadership role and the experience of his opponent, this high-profile primary has drawn significant attention and extensive media coverage across the state.
In the News
“What to know about the high-stakes NC primary between Phil Berger and Sam Page” (News & Observer)
“The first day of legislative candidate filing in NC makes a high-profile primary official” (NC Newsline)
“Page says he will remain in primary after Trump backs Berger” (Carolina Journal)
Primary Elections
District 1 – Open Seat; Incumbent Senator Bobby Hanig (R) not running
Senator Bobby Hanig (R) is not running for re-election, as he has filed to run for the U.S. House of Representatives representing District 1 in NC.
The District 1 Primary race will be Melissa Zehner (D) vs. the winner of the following Republican Primary:
Incumbents with Primary Challengers – Republicans
7 Incumbent Republican Members are in primary races, including the key race to watch for District 26, as noted above, where Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Berger (R) is facing Rockingham County Sheriff Sam Page (R).
District 12 (Harnett, Lee, Sampson Counties) is the only district holding a Democratic and Republican primary in March. Sen. Burgin (R) is the incumbent.
Incumbents with Primary Challengers – Democrats
2 Incumbent Democratic Members are in primary races – Senators Chitlik (D – District 22) and Lowe (D – District 32).
Other Primary Races
In 4 Districts, the incumbent NC Senator will be facing the winner of the following Primaries come November.
They are Senators Smith (D – District 5), Batch (D – District 17), Everitt (D – District 18), and Sawyer (R – District 37):
Running Unopposed in November
5 Incumbents are running unopposed in November – all Democrats – Sens. Murdock (D – District 20), Garrett (D – District 27), Robinson (D – District 28), Mohammed (D – District 38), and Salvador (D – District 39).
That means we expect, at a minimum, 5 Senate members who are definitely returning in 2027-2028 – as they do not have primary challengers or Republican opponents.
Together, they represent Chatham/Durham, Guilford, and Mecklenburg counties.
Summary
With all 50 seats of the North Carolina Senate on the ballot in November, the primaries highlight where turnover is possible, which incumbents face challengers, and who is positioned to return for the 2027-2028 NCGA Session.
At least one new Senator is guaranteed – Sen. Bobby Hanig (R – District 1) is not seeking re-election.
At least five incumbents are expected to return (running unopposed in November) – all are Democrats.
Republican supermajority hangs in the balance – a loss of 1 Republican seat would mean losing the Republican supermajority.
Several incumbents face primary challengers, including the high-profile race between Senate Leader Phil Berger (R) and Rockingham County Sheriff Sam Page (R) in District 26.
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