WASHINGTON – Retiring Republican U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis is urging party leaders to reassess where they spend campaign money as North Carolina’s open Senate race enters its final five weeks.
Tillis told reporters Monday at the Capitol that Republicans should concentrate resources on candidates who are leading or remain within reach. “We’ve got to place our bets on the candidates that are the best run, either ahead or within striking distance,” he said, adding that the party must adjust its posture in the final 36 days.
The warning centers on Republican nominee Michael Whatley’s contest against former Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper for the seat Tillis is leaving. Whatley is a former Republican National Committee chairman backed by President Donald Trump. Cooper served two terms as governor and four terms as state attorney general.
The Associated Press reported that the Senate Leadership Fund had $19.5 million in North Carolina advertising booked and had spent $30.4 million in the state to date. Reservations and completed spending are different measures, and future bookings can change.
Republican support for Whatley also includes coordinated party spending. Reuters reported that the National Republican Senatorial Committee spent about $8 million to support Whatley in July and August, after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down federal limits on coordinated spending by political parties and candidates.
WRAL reported that national Republican funding is especially important because Whatley has trailed Cooper in candidate fundraising. Whatley said Friday that he had spoken with Senate campaign leaders and expected to receive the support needed to compete.
Tillis did not say the North Carolina race was over or call for Republicans to abandon Whatley. His comments instead put a time limit on the party’s willingness to continue heavy spending if polling and other campaign data do not show a path to victory.
The decision carries national consequences. Democrats need a net gain of four Senate seats to win the majority. The Associated Press reported that victories in North Carolina and Texas would leave Democrats needing two additional competitive Republican-held seats while protecting their own vulnerable incumbents.
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Photo Credit: Office of U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis, official portrait. Public information; copied with requested photo credit under the office privacy policy. Non-generative crop with unchanged NC Political News footer and logo.
Editor’s Note: This article was drafted with the assistance of artificial intelligence and was reviewed and fact-checked by a member of the NC Political News editorial team before publication.