NRSC Shifts Focus from Georgia and North Carolina to Defend Red States

Key points

• NRSC Chair Tim Scott told Senate Republicans that the committee will focus spending on defending seats in Maine, Alaska, Ohio, Iowa, and Texas, and flipping Michigan and New Hampshire.
• The strategy notably excludes North Carolina and Georgia, where Republicans are facing tough races against Democratic incumbents Roy Cooper and Jon Ossoff, respectively.
• Polling shared by Scott indicates Republicans are trailing in Ohio and are neck-and-neck in New Hampshire, while the races in North Carolina and Georgia are seen as less favorable.
• The NRSC denied the report, with Communications Director Joanna Rodriguez calling it 'fabricated' and stating Scott praised Michael Whatley's polling momentum.
• Republican candidates in North Carolina and Georgia, including Michael Whatley and Mike Collins, and party officials, dismissed the notion of deprioritization, emphasizing their confidence in winning.

Background

This shift follows earlier reports in September 2026 that Republicans were debating whether to trim bets in North Carolina and Georgia as the Senate map tightened. At the GOP midterm convention in Dallas in early September, leaders privately acknowledged a mixed Senate map, expressing optimism about Alaska, Maine, and Michigan, but wariness about Georgia and North Carolina. The NRSC had also recently backed Darline Graham in the South Carolina Senate runoff, highlighting the party's focus on securing key seats.

How outlets are covering it

Politico reported the NRSC's strategic shift based on accounts from four attendees of the closed-door meeting, emphasizing the deprioritization of North Carolina and Georgia. The Washington Post highlighted the growing anxiety among Republicans about losing the North Carolina race, with Rep. Nancy Mace stating that Republicans will 'for SURE' lose the contest. In contrast, the NRSC and candidates in the affected states, such as Michael Whatley and Mike Collins, denied the deprioritization, with the NRSC calling the report 'fabricated' and candidates asserting their confidence in winning. Georgia GOP party chair Josh McKoon dismissed the notion, stating that what matters is voter turnout and actual numbers, not leaked spending plans.

Why it matters

The NRSC's decision to shift resources reflects the party's assessment of which Senate races are most winnable or critical to defend. By focusing on states like Texas, Michigan, and New Hampshire, Republicans aim to maximize their chances of maintaining or gaining seats in the Senate. This strategic move could impact the overall balance of power in the 119th Congress and highlight the challenges Republicans face in competitive states like North Carolina and Georgia, where they have historically held strong positions.

What to watch

The NRSC will continue to allocate funds to the prioritized states, while other GOP groups, such as Trump's MAGA Inc., may support campaigns in North Carolina and Georgia. The outcomes of the Senate races in these states will be closely watched, as they could determine the balance of power in the 119th Congress. Additionally, the NRSC's strategy may influence how other Republican organizations allocate resources in the final months of the campaign.