Republicans pull funding of Trump-backed Senate candidate in critical North Carolina race
Senate Leadership Fund is redirecting ad spending from Michael Whatley’s campaign to support other candidates
TL;DR
- The Senate Leadership Fund (SLF) has stopped funding its North Carolina Senate candidate, Michael Whatley.
- This move is attributed to increasingly dire midterm polling for Republicans.
- The SLF is redirecting its resources to support other candidates, reportedly including Roger Marshall in Kansas.
- The North Carolina seat was opened by Senator Thom Tillis's retirement, and Roy Cooper is the Democratic nominee.
- Despite significant ad spending by the SLF, Roy Cooper has maintained a consistent polling lead over Michael Whatley.
- The SLF had previously pledged $71 million for the North Carolina seat and planned to spend an additional $30 million on Whatley.