Republicans pull funding of Trump-backed Senate candidate in critical North Carolina race

A major Republican super PAC has stopped backing Michael Whatley, the party's Senate nominee in North Carolina, as Republicans start deciding where their money does the most good. Semafor first reported that the Senate Leadership Fund, which works on behalf of Majority Leader John Thune, is pulling its advertising from the state. Other outlets, including The New York Times and CNN, then corroborated it through people familiar with the group's plans, according to The Guardian.

Whatley, a onetime Republican National Committee chair, was Donald Trump's personal pick. He trails Democrat Roy Cooper, the ex-governor, who has never been behind by fewer than four points in any poll this year. A new AARP survey puts Cooper ahead by 11. The seat opened up when Thom Tillis chose to leave the Senate. The fund had promised $71 million for the race and had intended to put in $30 million more for Whatley. Its ads centered on crime, including one tying Cooper to the killing of Iryna Zarutska, though he was not in office then.

Republicans hold a 53-47 majority and can lose only three seats with JD Vance breaking ties. Cook Political Report calls the race "leans Democratic."

Summarized by PolitiKool from The Guardian’s reporting. Read the full story at The Guardian →