Republican Group Withdraws Support from North Carolina Senate Race

<figure><img alt="A photo illustration of Donald Trump, and the North Carolina flag." src="https://thedailybeast-thedailybeast-prod.web.arc-cdn.net/resizer/v2/WAA3YDQEEVBGVDQRFQCWFC5BRU.jpg?auth=f455b796901d0604e79c000cce325830fe90b29b3e4b8a3ee526cbe5a5464871&amp;smart=true&amp;width=3000&amp;height=1688" /><figcaption>Photo Illustration by Thomas Levinson/The Daily Beast/Reuters</figcaption></figure><p>The Senate Leadership Fund, a super PAC supporting Senate Republicans, has paused its financial support for the North Carolina Senate race as candidate Michael Whatley falls behind in the polls against Democrat Roy Cooper. </p><p>Instead, the PAC is redirecting its resources to Kansas, where it aims to bolster support for Republican Senator Roger Marshall, who is facing a competitive race. </p><p>This decision was reported by Semafor on October 2, 2026. The Senate Leadership Fund had initially planned to invest $71 million in the North Carolina race but has already spent over $30 million before halting further expenditures. </p><p>Recent polls indicate that Whatley is trailing Cooper by as much as 15 points. In contrast, Marshall is in a tight race against Democratic candidate Adam Hamilton, with two polls last month showing Hamilton leading by two points. </p><p>The Senate Leadership Fund has allocated $8.2 million for ad reservations in Kansas, with advertising set to begin shortly. Currently, Republicans hold a 53-seat majority in the Senate, while Democrats have 47 seats. </p><p>Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer commented on the shift in funding, suggesting it reflects the Democrats' growing chances of regaining the Senate majority. The Cook Political Report has adjusted its rating for the Kansas Senate seat from "Likely Republican" to "Lean Republican." </p><p>In response to the tightening race, Vice President JD Vance and other Senate Republicans have visited Kansas to support Marshall. Hamilton recently received endorsements from two former Republican governors, further complicating the race dynamics.</p><img alt="The Senate Leadership Fund is pausing spending in the North Carolina Senate race to help GOP candidate Michael Whatley, pictured with Trump on September 16, 2026. / Anna Moneymaker / Getty Images" height="3642" src="https://thedailybeast-thedailybeast-prod.web.arc-cdn.net/resizer/v2/CDI4IKEXJZBCJMCSGWHHRRRPWM.jpg?auth=0c061ac60e2a86ff3861194abc1d399d65b8bfb0d8a6fe749089f89a257539cc&amp;smart=true&amp;width=4853&amp;height=3642" width="4853" /><img alt="SLF is rushing to help Kansas Senator Roger Marshall, pictured standing alongside GOP Sen. Eric Schmitt at an event with Vice President JD Vance at Webco Manufacturing on September 14, 2026, in Olathe, Kansas. / Mark Schiefelbein-Pool/Getty Images" height="3178" src="https://thedailybeast-thedailybeast-prod.web.arc-cdn.net/resizer/v2/W6RKT7DCHNEJJIRWSAFAOAKTSY.jpg?auth=575df3bbd0ff3019d05fd4125a22763c523036800fd760455f7eec4dea0b20e8&amp;smart=true&amp;width=4768&amp;height=3178" width="4768" /><img alt="Adam Hamilton, senior pastor of the United Methodist Church of the Resurrection, hopes to buck Kansas's trend of not electing a Democrat to the Senate since 1932. / Kansas City Star / TNS" height="2000" src="https://thedailybeast-thedailybeast-prod.web.arc-cdn.net/resizer/v2/VTVE567L5BABHHQ2QYZJINODX4.jpg?auth=bb71635979febf67bb25025367abbcc3cff74f1d630b4d4d83dab8c71e025666&amp;smart=true&amp;width=3000&amp;height=2000" width="3000" /></p>