RALEIGH, N.C. – Two candidates seeking North Carolina’s U.S. Senate seat will face off tonight in a live, virtual debate as statewide early voting officially opens. Libertarian nominee Shannon Bray and Green Party candidate Michael Dublin are set to share the stage, while major-party hopefuls Democrat Roy Cooper and Republican Michael Whatley are not expected to appear after their campaigns failed to respond to debate organizers’ invitations.

Scheduled from 7:30 to 9 p.m. Eastern Time, the 90-minute event will stream publicly across the Libertarian Party of North Carolina’s YouTube, Facebook, and X channels. Moderated by Ryan Rabah, co-founder of the state’s We The People Party, the forum will focus on key state and national issues, including inflation, healthcare costs, foreign policy, tariffs, climate change, and election integrity, while allowing live online viewers to submit questions directly to the candidates.

Both candidates on tonight’s roster criticized their absent rivals for dodging public scrutiny in favor of paid advertising. Bray, a U.S. Navy veteran and cybersecurity specialist campaigning on digital privacy and systemic reform, joins Dublin, a public school teacher advocating for progressive economic and environmental policies, to offer contrasting visions for Capitol Hill. North Carolina voters can cast ballots during the early voting window starting today through October 31, ahead of Election Day on November 3.

The most recent Carolina Forward poll puts Democrat Roy Cooper at 50%, Republican Michael Whatley 40%, Libertarian Shannon Bray 2% and Green Party candidate Michael Dublin at 1% in the race for North Carolina’s open Senate seat. The prediction market platform Kalshi further predicts a 95% chance regarding Cooper’s chances of victory.