North Carolina Senate Race Tightens as GOP Pours $50 Million Against Cooper

RALEIGH — The U.S. Senate race in North Carolina has tightened sharply, with a new High Point University poll released Friday showing Democrat Roy Cooper ahead of Republican Michael Whatley 50 percent to 45 percent among likely voters—a five-point lead with 10 weeks until Election Day.

The margin represents a dramatic narrowing from earlier polls by Elon University and the Carolina Journal, which showed Cooper with double-digit advantages. The shift coincides with a Republican spending blitz: the GOP is committing $50 million to North Carolina in the campaign's final stretch, among the largest single-state investments in any Senate race this cycle.

"This is going to be anywhere from a one to three percent race," Coo the state's governor, said.

Republicans are attacking Cooper over a court-ordered crime deal he negotiated as governor. Cooper says the agreement was necessary. He has fired back at Whatley for appointing a sex offender to a position within the North Carolina Republican Party.

President Donald Trump will campaign for Whatley this week, signaling the national stakes. Whatley has aligned himself with Trump on Iran and tariffs without claiming 100 percent agreement, but he has avoided public breaks with the administration's positions.

Jeff Allen, Cooper's North Carolina campaign manager, framed the contest in stark terms: "A Democrat has not won statewide federal office here in nearly two decades. Whatley's elite D.C. connections mean Republicans are going to spend whatever it takes to keep this seat."

Allen added: "North Carolina is a 50-50 state and this will be a margin-of-error race. We're building a campaign to earn every vote and make sure North Carolinians know that Roy Cooper will fight for them, while Michael Whatley will continue to enrich himself at their expense."

Affordability has become a central battleground. Cooper's campaign emphasizes proposals to lower costs for residents. Whatley argues that Democratic policies have driven up consumer costs.

Both parties view the race as critical. Republicans fear a potential collapse in North Carolina if Whatley cannot overcome his consistent polling deficit before November.

"This is going to be anywhere from a one to three percent race," Coo the state's governor, said.

Affordability has become a central battleground. Cooper's campaign emphasizes proposals to lower costs for residents. Whatley argues that Democratic policies have driven up consumer costs.

Both parties view the race as critical. Republicans fear a potential collapse in North Carolina if Whatley cannot overcome his consistent polling deficit before November.