Key facts
- The Senate Leadership Fund (SLF) has withdrawn its ad spending in North Carolina.
- The SLF had pledged $71 million to hold North Carolina’s US Senate seat.
- Roy Cooper leads Michael Whatley by double-digit margins in North Carolina polls.
- The SLF planned to spend $30 million more supporting Whatley.
- The Cook Political Report rates the North Carolina Senate race as 'leans Democratic'.
The Senate Leadership Fund (SLF), a major Republican political action committee, has withdrawn its advertising spending in North Carolina, a move aimed at redirecting resources to other races amid increasingly dire midterm polling for the party. The fund had previously pledged $71 million to secure the state's US Senate seat.
This decision comes as polls consistently show Democratic candidate Roy Cooper holding a significant lead over Republican Michael Whatley, with an AARP poll indicating an 11-point advantage. The SLF had already begun targeting Cooper before he secured the Democratic nomination, using ads that linked him to a murder case, which has drawn criticism from the victim's father, Ronald Hayes, who stated he felt 'swindled' by the PAC.
Republicans currently hold a 53-47 majority in the Senate, and with a narrow path to maintaining control, the party is re-evaluating its resource allocation. The Cook Political Report rates the North Carolina Senate race as 'leans Democratic,' with seven other races considered toss-ups. The SLF reportedly plans to redirect its North Carolina funds to support Senator Roger Marshall in Kansas.
Despite the SLF's withdrawal, Whatley's campaign expressed confidence in their ability to win, with spokesperson DJ Griffin stating they have the necessary resources and anticipating that late-breaking undecided voters will favor Republicans. However, some Republican operatives acknowledge the increasing difficulty of winning North Carolina, with one describing it as a 'tough one from the beginning.' Senate Majority Leader John Thune, whose campaign arm is the SLF, had been scheduled to attend an event with Whatley but ultimately joined virtually.