What does Wake County's blue wave mean ahead of the 2026 U.S. Senate race?

Four different towns in Wake County will have new mayors next year. It comes after Democrats made big gains in the county’s suburbs on election night. Paul Specht and Will Doran with WRAL's NC Capitol Team break down what happened and what this may mean for Democrats and Republicans heading into 2026 – when all eyes will be on North Carolina for the U.S. Senate race. 

The WRAL Daily Download is an in-depth conversation about a single news story. WRAL covers news across North Carolina every day, but this podcast focuses on one story at a time, bringing context to each conversation. The in-depth, localized podcast takes you into the latest stories from Raleigh, Durham, and the entire Triangle region on North Carolina. This is community news aimed at keeping you informed about the more subtle stories that are happening around you. Hosted by WRAL News journalists, episodes post weekdays by 4:30am.