Whatley Goes Dark in NC Senate Race
Republican nominee Michael Whatley cuts ad spending as Cooper leads in North Carolina.
2 min read
Republican North Carolina Senate nominee Michael Whatley has stopped running television ads in the state, according to AdImpact Politics. Whatley’s campaign booked no television ads under their name from Wednesday through Election Day, marking a significant shift in their strategy. The last ad aired by Whatley’s campaign was the week of Oct. 7.
Former Democratic North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper’s campaign, on the other hand, booked $7.4 million in future ad reservations, according to AdImpact. Outside groups also contributed heavily, with $11.2 million in future ads supporting Cooper and $4.7 million backing Whatley. Whatley’s and Cooper’s campaigns did not immediately respond to the Daily Caller News Foundation’s requests for comment.
Whatley temporarily pulled television ads on Oct. 7 while rethinking their strategy. Republican political action committees (PACs) slashed funding for the North Carolina race to help candidates in red states, including Republican Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. The Senate Leadership Fund, the Republicans’ top Senate campaign arm, paused spending in North Carolina after pouring $30 million into the race to support Whatley. Americans for Prosperity Action, a PAC aligned with the Koch brothers, did not include North Carolina in its $22 million list of future spending across key Republican Senate contests.
Old North Action removed $6.5 million in ad reservations in September, Semafor first reported. WinSenate, a super PAC aligned with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer’s Senate Majority PAC, removed roughly $1.1 million in North Carolina ad buys while Cooper remained safely ahead. The super PAC had $18.8 million in future reservations for North Carolina through Election Day.
#NCPol: Michael Whatley currently has no future linear ad reservations booked for #NCSen. His campaign’s last broadcast TV ad aired a week ago, on 10/7. Future reservations: Campaign: 🔵$7.4M 🔴$0 Outside groups: 🔵$11.2M 🔴$4.7M
Republicans spent over $200 million supporting Paxton, who trailed Democratic Texas Senate nominee James Talarico by 2.6 points, according to RealClearPolling. The Senate Leadership Fund dedicated $14 million in spending for the Kansas race, where Republican Kansas Sen. Roger Marshall faces a tough challenge against his Democratic opponent. Kansas voters last elected a Democratic senator in November 1932.
Republican PACs also ramped up spending in traditionally red states such as South Carolina and South Dakota. President Donald Trump endorsed Whatley early in the election cycle after the candidate chaired the Republican National Committee (RNC) alongside Trump’s daughter-in-law, Lara Trump. Republican North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis announced in June 2025 that he would not seek reelection after Trump threatened to support his primary challenger over his vote against the One Big, Beautiful Bill.
Source: Daily Caller
