Full Breakdown
GOP Super PAC Shifts Funding from North Carolina to Kansas Ahead of Midterms
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Core Shift in Campaign Spending
The Senate Leadership Fund (SLF), the top Republican super-PAC aligned with Senate majority leader John Thune, announced it is pausing all remaining advertising purchases for the North Carolina U.S. Senate race and redirecting the money to a new ad effort in Kansas. The move signals that GOP strategists now view the North Carolina contest as unwinnable and are concentrating resources on defending seats in traditionally red states.
Background & Context
The North Carolina seat is open after Republican Sen. Thom Tillis announced retirement. The GOP nominee is Michael Whatley, former RNC chairman and a Trump-endorsed candidate. The Democratic challenger is former governor Roy Cooper.
In Kansas, incumbent Republican Sen. Roger Marshall is seeking a second term against Democratic nominee Adam Hamilton, a Methodist pastor.
Data & Statistics
- SLF pledged $71 million to hold the North Carolina seat, spent roughly $30 million to date, and had $15 million in reserved ad space before the pause.
- The PAC had reserved more than $8 million in airtime for Kansas, with an additional $8.2 million in future ad reservations.
- Polling aggregates show Cooper leading Whatley by three to eight points.
- In Kansas, RealClearPolitics averages place Marshall ahead of Hamilton by about 1.5 points, narrower than his 2020 margin.
Official Statements & Responses
SLF declined to comment. DJ Griffin, spokesman for Whatley, said the campaign believes “undecided voters who break late decide the election in North Carolina and the majority of those late-breakers typically go Republican.”
Jeff Allen, Cooper’s campaign manager, warned the race “is far from over” and called the GOP’s shift a strategic retreat.
On-the-Ground Reports
- Jeanna Repass, chair of the Kansas Democratic Party, warned that “Kansas farmers — including Republicans — are devastated by the war in Iran driving up diesel prices.”
Criticism & Opposition
Democratic operatives argue the SLF’s withdrawal underscores a lack of confidence in Whatley’s ability to defeat Cooper and fuels criticism that national GOP money is being funneled away from competitive battlegrounds toward safe-state defenses.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on the exact amount SLF has spent in North Carolina: NBC reports “about $32 million,” while WRAL cites “about $30 million.” Both agree the PAC had reserved at least $15 million for future ads before the pause. No public breakdown is available for how the redirected funds will be allocated across Kansas-related advertising beyond the reported $8-plus million figure.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Undecided Voters who break late decide the election in North Carolina and the majority of those Late-Breakers typically go Republican.” — Griffin, Whatley spokesman
- “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,” — Jeff Allen, Cooper campaign manager
- “Kansas farmers — including Republicans — are devastated by the war in Iran driving up diesel prices,” — Jeanna Repass, Kansas Democratic Party chair
What’s Next
The reallocation of funds will shape the final weeks of campaigning in both states as voters head to the ballot on November 3. Both campaigns have indicated they will continue to deploy remaining resources through the closing days of the election cycle.