GOP Super PAC Pulls Spending in North Carolina Senate Race

The top super political action committee supporting Republican Senate candidates has stopped buying ads in North Carolina, the latest sign of trouble for GOP nominee Michael Whatley.

The Senate Leadership Fund, which already spent $32 million on Whatley’s race against Democrat Roy Cooper, has no plans to spend further and will cancel existing reservations, a person familiar with the situation said.

Whatley has never led in polls despite party leaders — including President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance and Senate Majority John Thune — stumping on his behalf.

The GOP group is shifting spending to Kansas with a seven-figure advertisement buy in order to shore up incumbent Senator Roger Marshall, whose race against Democrat Adam Hamilton is tightening, the person said. The group has reserved $1.2 million worth of advertising time in the Kansas Senate race, according to AdImpact.

The Republican group’s moves were first reported by Semafor.

The drying up of campaign money in North Carolina comes in stark contrast to predictions earlier this year that a tight contest there would push spending in that state up toward $1 billion.

Trump’s super PACs, another well of possible funding for Whatley, haven’t booked any ad time in North Carolina, according to AdImpact. But No Going Back PAC, a super PAC affiliated with Trump’s MAGA Inc., spent $9.8 million on text messages and direct mail to influence the race in September, most recently on September 26, Federal Election Commission records show.

Trump Ties Hurt GOP Senate Candidates in North Carolina, Georgia

Weeks ago, Republican operatives had warned that Whatley would have limited time to demonstrate he was gaining on Cooper, a former two-term governor with wide name recognition in the state. The operatives said pressure on Republicans in more places than expected meant tough choices had to be made.

Whatley’s focused attacks on crime rates during Cooper’s term as governor have failed to move the needle as the Democrat aims his message squarely at the rising cost of living due to tariffs and the war in Iran. Whatley has closely tied himself to Trump’s policies, refusing advice from retiring North Carolina Senator Thom Tillis to distance himself from the president.

A Big Data Poll survey out this week found Cooper up 51% to 39% against Whatley. It came on the heels of a Sept. 20 poll by Fabrizio Ward and Impact Research for AARP showing Cooper up 53% to 42% over Whatley.

Both campaigns have maintained that the race will tighten with North Carolina voters historically waiting until close to Election Day to make up their minds. A Cooper victory would be the first time since 2008 that a Democrat has represented North Carolina in the Senate, which now has more registered Republicans than Democrats.

A spokesman for Whatley said the Republican candidate will have enough money to prevail.

“Undecided Voters who break late decide the election in North Carolina and the majority of those Late-Breakers typically go Republican. We feel confident we have the resources,” said Whatley Spokesman DJ Griffin.