The Senate Leadership Fund, the campaign arm of Senate Majority Leader John Thune, has suspended its advertising spending in North Carolina’s Senate race, according to multiple news reports. The fund is redirecting resources to support other Republican candidates in races deemed more winnable, as the party reassesses its midterm strategy in light of recent polling data.
The North Carolina seat opened when Republican Senator Thom Tillis announced his retirement, creating what observers characterize as a potential pickup opportunity for Democrats. Former Democratic Governor Roy Cooper won his party’s nomination and is competing against Michael Whatley, a former Republican National Committee chair who received backing from Donald Trump. The SLF had previously committed $71 million to the race and had already begun advertising against Cooper before the Democratic primary concluded.
Polling data appears to have influenced the funding decision. The Cook Political Report rates the North Carolina race as “leans Democratic,” and recent surveys show Cooper maintaining a consistent lead. An AARP poll released earlier in the week indicated Cooper ahead by 11 points, consistent with other recent surveys showing him ahead by at least four points throughout the year.
Republicans currently hold a 53-47 Senate majority, with Vice President JD Vance available as a tiebreaker. Party strategists have identified multiple seats at risk, with seven races rated as toss-ups—five currently held by Republicans in Alaska, Iowa, Maine, Ohio, and Texas. The SLF is reportedly moving its North Carolina funds to support Republican Senator Roger Marshall in Kansas, where the Cook Political Report rates his race as “leans Republican” despite a challenge from Democratic candidate Adam Hamilton, a Methodist pastor.
In-person early voting in North Carolina begins on 15 October.
Article Attribution | Read More at Article Source
Article summary produced by Claude AI