Democrats see opening in NC as Whatley campaign pauses ads

National Democrats are rethinking their campaign strategy in North Carolina as Republican groups — and even the GOP candidate — pause spending in the state’s open U.S. Senate race.

The campaign for Michael Whatley, former chair of the Republican National Committee and North Carolina Republican Party, has temporarily pulled its ads from television while reevaluating its target audience, according to The News and Observer. 

The Whatley campaign, North Carolina Republican Party, and National Republican Senatorial Committee did not respond to requests for comment. 

Last week, multiple outlets reported the Senate Leadership Fund, a leading GOP super PAC, is pulling millions of advertising dollars away from the North Carolina U.S. Senate contest, directing the money to races in other states instead. 

Whatley has consistently trailed Democratic former Gov. Roy Cooper in polls and fundraising. He’s also closely aligned himself with President Donald Trump, a decision that may hurt his electability given the president’s dwindling approval ratings in North Carolina. 

Trump and Vice President JD Vance separately visited the Tar Heel State last month, holding rallies to stump for Whatley and downballot Republicans. 

On the Democratic side, Senate Majority PAC press secretary Christyna Thompson said Republicans have run out of reasons to keep supporting Whatley.

Republican super PAC pauses spending in North Carolina’s key US Senate race

“They’ve spent over $30 million trying to sell voters on him, but a few false ads and bringing in the president doesn’t change the reality on the ground,” Thompson told NC Newsline. “Whatley has a record of putting North Carolina last, and voters know it, no matter how much the GOP try to distract.”

WinSenate, a group that’s connected to Senate Majority PAC, pulled $1.1M in ad support for Cooper, according to ad tracking firm AdImpact. The group is still scheduled to spend $18.8M in the Tar Heel State by Election Day. 

North Carolina has some of the country’s most expensive media markets in Charlotte and the Raleigh-Durham area, leading to costly campaigns for both parties. 

At the moment, Republicans hold 53 seats in the U.S. Senate, while Democrats have 45. Two independent senators caucus with the Democrats. 

That means Democrats need a net gain of three seats for a 50-50 split of the upper chamber, and four to gain a majority. On the national level, Republicans have a massive cash advantage. 

Other viable pick-up opportunities for Democrats — some with cheaper media markets — include Maine, Alaska, Ohio, Texas, and Iowa. They’re also defending seats in Michigan, Georgia, and New Hampshire. 

Cooper is the best-known U.S. Senate candidate Democrats have fielded in decades. He’s won statewide elections six times — twice as governor, and four times as attorney general. His 16-year tenure in that office was the longest in North Carolina history. 

North Carolina last elected a Democratic U.S. senator in 2008, when Barack Obama became the first Democratic presidential candidate to win the Tar Heel State in 32 years. No Democratic presidential or senatorial candidates have won in North Carolina since. 

While Democrats view the spending pause as a good sign, they aren’t celebrating just yet. There’s still four and a half weeks until Election Day, and North Carolina is a battleground state.

“We’re building a campaign to earn every vote and make sure North Carolinians know that Roy Cooper will fight for them, while Michael Whatley will continue to enrich himself at their expense,” Cooper campaign manager Jeff Allen told NC Newsline.