North Carolina Republicans have a clear message for Washington: assistance is urgently needed. Their Senate candidate, Michael Whatley, former chair of the Republican National Committee, finds himself trailing significantly behind Roy Cooper, the highly regarded Democratic contender and former governor, both in terms of polling and financial resources.
Despite the challenging situation, Republicans are hopeful that Whatley can recover from these deficits, provided the national GOP commits funds promptly, as indicated by interviews with numerous North Carolina Republicans and national strategists. They assert that an early and substantial financial boost could address Whatley’s primary challenge: low name recognition.
Typically, the state’s Senate race would be a focal point during midterms. However, the Cooper-Whatley race has been overshadowed by more prominent contests in Texas, Maine, and Michigan, causing concern among North Carolina Republicans about the need for increased financial support and national attention.
“He has an uphill climb,” remarked Tuesday Sauer, chair of the Bertie County GOP. “Even though he was the RNC chair, a lot of people who aren’t politically involved really don’t know who Michael Whatley is.”
Currently, the race has been relatively quiet, concentrating on core affordability issues that resonate nationwide. Yet, this understated approach masks the critical importance of North Carolina in the upcoming elections. The state, which has favored Donald Trump in past elections, is crucial for Democrats, who are eager to gain control of the Senate. Cooper, with his extensive political career and recognition, presents the Democrats with a promising opportunity for their first Senate victory in the state since 2008.
However, some Republicans argue that Whatley, a former state party chair and ally of Trump, is running a lackluster campaign that fails to stand out against his formidable opponent and the challenging national backdrop.
“Michael Whatley has to give them a reason to talk about North Carolina, and so far he hasn’t. That’s the challenge,” commented one GOP state official, who requested anonymity. “There are many other races that generate headlines, and right now, the headline in North Carolina is: ‘Republican Party plays possum.’”
Financially, Cooper has a significant lead, having raised $13.8 million compared to Whatley’s $5 million in the first quarter. Cooper also has $18.5 million cash on hand, while Whatley holds more than $2.5 million. Public polling suggests Cooper has up to a 14-point lead over Whatley.
DJ Griffin, spokesperson for the Whatley campaign, stated, “The strategy is simple. Remind North Carolinians that Roy Cooper is a pro-crime, pro-tax, career politician whose failed leadership made life less safe and less affordable. The campaign is humming, our partners are aligned across the board, and every day from now until Election Day is about one thing: sending Roy Cooper into retirement.”
Republicans intend to target Cooper on issues like crime and pandemic restrictions. During the pandemic, Cooper agreed to a settlement with civil rights groups to release around 3,500 inmates to address overcrowding and health risks, some of whom committed new crimes. Republicans hold Cooper accountable for this.
Cooper’s team counters that Whatley is to blame for advocating the release of prisoners during the pandemic.
“Whatley and his allies have been caught lying time and again, but the truth is Roy Cooper spent his career locking up criminals while Whatley pushed for prisoners to be released during Covid,” stated Cooper campaign spokesperson Kate Smart.
The race will test whether voters still remember Cooper’s pandemic measures. Republicans remain upset over Cooper’s restrictions, such as closing churches and limiting hospital visits.
“At the first chance during Covid, Roy Cooper shut down all the churches, that’s major, while he let the bars remain open,” said state GOP Sen. Steve Jarvis. “It’s been a while, so I think that’s being missed right now. We need to get that back in the news.”
Amidst the wait for financial support, many Republicans remain hopeful that Whatley’s political connections will prove beneficial.
The GOP-aligned Senate Leadership Fund has dedicated $71 million to the race, with more than $36 million reserved for broadcast ads starting in September, according to AdImpact. North Carolina, with its numerous media markets, is among the more expensive states for advertising.
“If Dems think they have a layup in the only swing state that President Trump is 3-0, they’re out of their minds,” stated a national Republican strategist involved in the race, who requested anonymity.
Other PACs, such as Old North Action, have also reserved significant ad space for the fall. Americans For Prosperity has spent over $8 million this spring, mainly on digital and streaming ads for Whatley. North Carolina Republicans are optimistic that Whatley will benefit from the recent Supreme Court decision permitting political parties to coordinate with candidates without spending limits, given his previous role as RNC chair. The Republicans have a substantial financial advantage over Democrats, with the RNC holding over $125 million, while the DNC has more debt than cash on hand.
“The fall of coordinated spending limits means the NRSC can discuss spending decisions directly with our candidates and their campaigns,” said Joanna Rodriguez, communications director at the National Republican Senatorial Committee. “The era of raising the curtain on strategy and press and the Democrats we’re looking to defeat is over.”
“President Trump and Republicans are united behind Michael Whatley, who will be North Carolina’s champion in the US Senate,” commented RNC spokesperson Emma Hall.
Cooper also has national financial backing, although not to the same extent as Republicans. The WinSenate PAC, linked with Schumer-backed Senate Majority PAC, has pledged over $27 million in fall ad reservations for him.
“The reality of all of it is that between Republican super PACs and the RNC, they just have way more money,” said Morgan Jackson, a North Carolina Democratic strategist and Cooper adviser. “There’s no white horse coming, the way that Republicans are waiting on their savior to come.”
Meanwhile, Trump’s PAC MAGA Inc., the Republicans’ largest financial asset, remains silent about its plans to allocate its $350 million fund.
“That money needs to be brought to North Carolina, so the people of North Carolina can be reminded of what a crappy Governor Roy Cooper was,” remarked GOP state Sen. Amy Galey.
“Getting his name, face recognition in 100 counties is tough, especially in North Carolina, with just plain geographics of going from Manteo to Murphy,” said GOP state Rep. Donnie Loftis, about Whatley. “It comes down to funding. That money drives your message, and if you don’t have the money, you can’t get your message out there.”
North Carolina Democrats also express concern over the national party’s lack of investment. Some worry that Cooper’s strong position might cause party leaders to prioritize other races, such as Texas, where Democrat James Talarico appears competitive against Republican Ken Paxton.
“I believe in the Coach K theory,” said Democratic House Minority Leader Robert Rieves, referring to former Duke basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski. “It doesn’t matter how far you are ahead, you keep playing just as hard as you did the first minute.”
Erin Doherty contributed reporting.
