GOP Super PAC Abandons North Carolina, Redirects Funds to Kansas

Key points

• The Senate Leadership Fund (SLF) paused its ad campaign in North Carolina after spending over $30 million on Republican candidate Michael Whatley.
• SLF is launching a new seven-figure ad buy in Kansas to support incumbent Senator Roger Marshall against Democrat Adam Hamilton.
• The move comes less than four weeks before the midterms, as polling shows Whatley trailing former Governor Roy Cooper in North Carolina.
• Republicans currently hold 53 Senate seats and can afford to lose up to three to maintain their majority, making Kansas a critical defensive battle.
• The shift reflects a broader trend of Democrats gaining traction in traditionally Republican states, including Kansas, where a Democrat has not won a Senate race since 1932.

Background

Recent archive articles indicate that GOP leadership had already begun deprioritizing North Carolina in late September, with the NRSC excluding the state from top spending targets and key super PACs cutting ad reservations. This latest move by SLF marks a definitive retreat from a state that was initially viewed as a top-tier battleground.

How outlets are covering it

While all sources agree on the SLF's shift from North Carolina to Kansas, they emphasize different aspects. Politico and The Washington Post focus on the strategic retreat from a state Trump won three times, highlighting the fading hopes for a Republican victory. Semafor and NBC News stress the tactical reallocation of resources to defend the Senate majority in red states like Kansas, where the race has become unexpectedly competitive. NBC News also notes the broader context of Democrats gaining ground in traditionally Republican areas due to low approval ratings for President Trump and economic frustrations.

Why it matters

The SLF's decision underscores the shifting dynamics of the 2026 midterm elections, where Republicans are increasingly focused on defending their Senate majority in deep-red states rather than pursuing gains in battleground states. This move signals a potential loss of the North Carolina Senate seat, which could impact the balance of power in the Senate and reflect broader challenges for the GOP in the upcoming election.

What to watch

The focus will now be on the Kansas Senate race, where SLF is investing heavily to support Roger Marshall. The outcome in Kansas, along with other competitive races in states like Ohio and Iowa, will determine whether Republicans can maintain their Senate majority. In North Carolina, the race between Whatley and Cooper remains competitive, with both campaigns claiming confidence in their chances, but the lack of major GOP spending suggests a likely Democratic victory.