Democrats outraise opponents in NC’s most contentious congressional races

Democrats in North Carolina’s most competitive congressional races are significantly ahead of their Republican opponents in fundraising, according to reports filed with the Federal Election Commission.

Former Gov. Roy Cooper reported bringing in more funding and has more cash on hand than his GOP rival. The same is true for U.S. Rep. Don Davis and Jamie Ager in their U.S. House races. Democrats have poured money into the campaigns, seeing them as critical to the control of Congress. 

Campaign finance reports covering fundraising and spending during the third quarter, spanning from July 1 to Sept. 30, were due last week with the FEC. Election Day is Nov. 3. 

Cooper reports nearly 14 times more cash on hand than Whatley

Two weeks before Election Day, North Carolina’s marquee U.S. Senate race has shifted into a lower gear after an active late summer and early fall. 

GOP U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis’ retirement left an open seat drawing plenty of attention and money. With 53 Republicans, 45 Democrats, and two independents in the Senate, Democrats need a net gain of four seats to flip control of the chamber. 

Cooper, a Democrat, broke records when he raised $3.4 million during the first 24 hours of his campaign. Democrats saw the seat as one of their best pick-up opportunities this election cycle, and political observers expected it to be among the most expensive. 

Democrats see opening in NC as Whatley campaign pauses ads

But now, both national parties have pulled ads from the airwaves as they rethink their campaign strategies. They’re funneling their money into states like Georgia and Maine, and unlikely battlegrounds like Texas, Iowa, and Kansas.

The Cook Political Report, an elections forecaster, rates the race as “likely Democratic.”

Michael Whatley, the former chair of the Republican National Committee and North Carolina Republican Party, has consistently trailed Cooper in the polls. He’s doubled down on his allegiance to President Donald Trump despite the president’s dwindling approval numbers in the state. 

Cooper raised about $4.4 million during the third quarter. He spent about $20 million, and has about $12.5 million left in cash on hand. 

On the GOP side, Whatley reported receiving about $1.6 million, spending about $4.6 million, and having about $916,000 remaining in the bank. 

Over the course of the race, Cooper has more than tripled Whatley in fundraising. Cooper has raised a total of $47 million since 2025, compared to $13 million for Whatley.

WinSenate, a Democratic super PAC, removed $1.1 million from the North Carolina Senate race, according to ad tracking firm AdImpact, but still has $18.8 million in future reservations through Election Day. 

Outside groups reported spending almost $9.3 million during the third quarter on Cooper’s behalf, while other political action committees spent nearly $7.4 million to back Whatley before cutting their spending earlier in October. 

Ager is millions of dollars ahead of Balkcom

Following incumbent Republican U.S. Rep. Chuck Edwards’ withdrawal from the campaign after being censured by the U.S. House, two farmers are competing to appeal to Western North Carolinians. 

The 11th District has supported Republicans for most of the past 35 years. But with the vacancy and current political climate, Democrats are optimistic about their chances. Cook Political Report rates the seat as “toss up.”

At the moment, Republicans hold a 218-212 majority in the House, with four vacancies and one independent.

A tale of two farmers: Ager, Balkcom compete for NC-11 seat

Democrat Jamie Ager is a fourth-generation farmer from a political family. He owns Hickory Nut Gap Farms, which supplies products to restaurants, grocery stores and individual customers. 

Ager reported a $2 million haul in the third quarter. After spending $2.8 million, he has $1.6 million in his campaign coffers. 

The NCGOP selected state Rep. Jennifer Balkcom, a mortgage loan officer who grew up on her family’s apple farm in Henderson County, to replace Edwards on the ballot in August. The timing left her with roughly three months to campaign.

Balkcom entered the race with approximately eight weeks remaining in the third quarter. She raised about $307,000, spent about $54,000, and reported about $295,000 left in the bank. 

Edwards reported receiving about $58,000, spending about $153,000, and keeping about $415,000 in cash on hand. 

Political action committees reported spending about $272,000 in support of Ager, and about $693,000 to oppose Edwards before he dropped out. 

Vice President JD Vance held a rally in Hendersonville on Monday to encourage turnout for Balkcom, Whatley, and other Republicans on the ballot. 

Davis leads Buckhout in a rematch of 2024

North Carolina’s 1st District had the state’s most expensive congressional race of the 2024 cycle. 

Now, the same candidates are vying for the seat again: GOP Army veteran Laurie Buckhout is challenging incumbent Democratic U.S. Rep. Don Davis. Ahead of the primary election in March, millions of dollars poured into the contest. 

However, Republican state lawmakers redrew the district last year, moving some Democratic leaning cities out and more Republican-voting areas in. Cook Political Report rates the seat as “toss up.”

Davis reported raising about $1.3 million, compared to about $628,000 for Buckhout. 

His spending also dwarfed his opponent — Davis spent about $2.8 million during the filing period, while Buckhout spent about $476,000. 

Still, the pair has similar amounts of cash on hand. Davis has about $2 million left in the bank, and Buckhout sits on about $1.9 million. 

Those numbers don’t include independent expenditures, which have heavily favored the Republican this quarter. PACs reported spending about $949,000 to back Buckhout, and about $190,000 to support Davis. 

Trump will head to Greenville on Tuesday to stump for Buckhout.