Republican Senate Candidate Michael Whatley Halts TV Ads Amid Funding Shifts
North Carolina Senate candidate Michael Whatley has paused television advertising as his campaign adjusts its targeting strategy following reduced support from national Republican groups.
The campaign of Republican Senate candidate Michael Whatley announced a temporary suspension of television advertisements as it refines its voter-targeting approach, a campaign source told McClatchy. "We are confident we have the resources to target our late-breaking supporters and win on Election Day," the source said.
The decision follows a broader pullback by national Republican groups, including the Senate Leadership Fund, which redirected its spending to a race in Kansas, and the withdrawal of a $6.5 million investment by Old North Action. Americans for Prosperity Action also omitted North Carolina from its recent $22 million national ad buy.
Democratic super PAC WinSenate responded by pulling $500,000 in TV ads and about $50,000 in digital ads. The race pits 58-year-old Whatley, a former energy-industry lobbyist and chief of staff to former Sen. Elizabeth Dole, against former Governor Roy Cooper, 69, who has held multiple statewide offices.
Polls since the July 2025 filing have consistently shown Cooper leading by double digits, with Whatley lagging in name recognition. According to the Federal Election Commission, Cooper’s campaign has spent over $14 million, while Whatley’s has spent nearly $8 million, with total fundraising between the two campaigns reaching about $45 million.