<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Vice President JD Vance urged North Carolina voters to support Senate Republican candidate Michael Whatley in his competitive race against former Governor Roy Cooper, as some Republicans express concerns that the historically competitive state may be shifting away from the GOP.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">During a visit to Greensboro, North Carolina, Vance described Whatley as “the best RNC chair that we have ever had” while criticizing Cooper as “the loyal servant of the hard Left” on issues such as crime, voter ID, and gender ideology.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Polling has consistently shown Cooper, a Democrat who has not lost a statewide election, leading Whatley in both polling and fundraising.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Despite Vance's support, at least one Republican group has canceled ad reservations for Whatley, indicating that the GOP may be reallocating resources to more competitive races.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><em>Semafor</em> reported that the GOP-aligned Old North Action canceled $6.5 million in ad reservations on the same day as Vance’s visit. Old North Action still has over $14.5 million in airtime reserved in North Carolina, but this cancellation marks the first significant indication of shifting Republican resources as concerns about their chances in the state increase.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The Senate Leadership Fund retains $23.2 million reserved in North Carolina, although it has reduced broadcast buys by $900,000 while increasing digital ad spending by $400,000.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Vance’s visit occurred less than a week after President Donald Trump also campaigned for Whatley in Gastonia, North Carolina. Like Trump, Vance criticized Cooper for his crime record.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">“In 2021, Roy Cooper released thousands of inmates from jail, half of whom went on to commit another crime in this great state,” Vance stated.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Cooper’s release of inmates was part of a COVID-19-era civil rights lawsuit settlement, which allowed for the early release of 3,500 inmates in 2021 as ordered by a North Carolina Superior Court judge.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The criticisms of Cooper’s crime record have not significantly impacted the race. A <em>Carolina Journal</em> poll released last week indicated that Cooper holds a 15.1 point lead over Whatley, with 49.2% to 34.1% among likely voters.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Voters have identified the economy, inflation, and cost of living as their primary concerns this election cycle. Vance acknowledged this voter dissatisfaction while appealing to independents to consider supporting the GOP again.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">“There are a lot of people in the state of North Carolina who haven’t made up their minds yet,” he said. “There are some out there who voted for us before, even, but don’t necessarily agree with everything that’s happened over the last 20 months.”</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Democrats have focused their campaign on affordability and have blamed Trump for the Iran war and subsequent high gas prices, but Vance asserted that Democrats, not Republicans, are responsible for rising prices.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">“If you’re unhappy with the pace of progress, don’t hand power back to Democrats who drove our country to the ground in the first place,” Vance said.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Despite Cooper's lead in polling, Vance framed the election as a contest between common sense and political extremism. Democrats are perceived to be in a strong position to flip the House, and Republicans are increasingly concerned about the Senate as well.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">“This November is not like the elections that most of us grew up with. You know where the debates were about taxation or how much we should regulate this or that,” Vance stated. “This midterm election is between people who believe this country should have a future and those who would rather see it destroyed and rebuilt from the ground up. We don’t have time for politicians who want to play both sides, who promise you that they’re moderates while giving the crazies everything they want. My friends, this November is make or break.”</p>