Devastation, doubt and blame: Hurricane Helene looms over North Carolina’s US Senate race
The Democratic and the Republican candidate each blame the other for the bungled recovery effort after storm struck region
TL;DR
- Two years after Hurricane Helene, areas in western North Carolina show signs of recovery, but lingering impacts like empty storefronts and debris remain.
- The handling of the Hurricane Helene recovery is a major point of contention between Democratic nominee Roy Cooper and Republican opponent Michael Whatley in the North Carolina US Senate race.
- Cooper, the former governor, is criticized by Whatley's campaign for the recovery efforts, while Cooper's campaign uses Trump's association with Whatley to label him the "recovery czar" and blame him for perceived failures.
- The election's outcome could influence the balance of power in the US Senate, in a state that has largely favored Republicans in recent elections.
- Local residents in affected towns like Marshall and Canton express mixed feelings about the recovery, with some feeling neglected and others pointing to specific aid received or lacking.
- Whatley's role on a Fema review board, which proposed shifting disaster response to state and local governments, is highlighted by his campaign, while Cooper's campaign points to state funds allocated for relief.
- Despite political differences, some local officials acknowledge Cooper's efforts in providing immediate post-storm aid, while still planning to vote for Whatley based on broader political alignments.