Republican party members are questioning the viability of their Senate campaign in North Carolina as nominee Michael Whatley trails Democrat Roy Cooper in recent polls.
Key facts
- •A recent poll found Roy Cooper leading Michael Whatley by 11 points among likely voters.
- •The Senate Leadership Fund has pledged $71 million to the North Carolina race through Election Day.
- •No Going Back PAC, affiliated with MAGA Inc., recently contributed roughly $5 million to the campaign.
- •President Trump is scheduled to hold a campaign rally with Whatley in Gastonia, North Carolina, next week.
- •North Carolina has not elected a Democrat to a Senate seat or supported a Democratic presidential candidate since 2008.
Republicans are increasingly concerned that the North Carolina Senate race is becoming difficult to win. Despite hopes that post-Labor Day funding would boost the campaign of Republican nominee Michael Whatley, he continues to struggle against Democrat Roy Cooper in public polling. Party members expressed these concerns during their midterm convention in Dallas, with some suggesting the state may be slipping out of contention.
By the numbers
Polling and Campaign Challenges
Public polling has consistently placed Roy Cooper ahead of Michael Whatley, with a recent survey showing the Democrat leading by 11 points among likely voters. Senator Rick Scott noted that running against an existing governor in an open seat creates a significant hurdle for the Republican campaign. While President Donald Trump has reiterated his support for Whatley, he acknowledged the race is a difficult case during his convention speech. Strategists point to broader environmental factors, including the party's struggle to address the cost of living and Trump’s approval ratings among unaffiliated voters. Paul Shumaker, a North Carolina GOP operative, emphasized that Whatley must win a majority of unaffiliated voters to succeed, noting that low enthusiasm among the Republican base remains a central challenge.
Financial and Strategic Outlook
The Senate Leadership Fund has pledged $71 million for the race, including a $17 million summer advertising campaign. Additionally, the No Going Back PAC recently contributed approximately $5 million. Despite these figures, some party members question if additional spending can alter the current trajectory, especially as the party faces pressure to allocate resources to other competitive states like Texas. Campaign officials for Whatley remain optimistic, citing the potential for late-breaking support from Republican voters and an upcoming campaign rally with President Trump in Gastonia. Conversely, the Cooper campaign argues that the race remains a 50-50 contest and that they are not relying solely on current polling leads, noting that the former governor's advantage is already beginning to narrow.
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This article was independently rewritten by ManyPress editorial AI from reporting originally published by Politico.
