A Republican super PAC is pausing its advertising spending in the North Carolina Senate race and reallocating resources to Kansas, indicating a shift in focus as the GOP faces challenges in maintaining a Senate majority. The Senate Leadership Fund (SLF), aligned with Senate GOP leadership, confirmed this decision, which was first reported by Semafor. The ad spending decisions reflect which races are viewed as competitive by political parties and outside groups.
The SLF's move to Kansas highlights how Democrats are targeting traditionally Republican states in their efforts to gain four seats needed for Senate control. Democrats aim to win in states that President Donald Trump carried by significant margins in 2024 while also defending seats in battleground states. As Election Day approaches, Democratic optimism is increasing, partly due to declining approval ratings for Trump and voter dissatisfaction with rising costs and ongoing conflicts, such as the Iran war.
In Kansas, the race between Republican Senator Roger Marshall and Democratic pastor Adam Hamilton has become more competitive, despite Kansas not electing a Democrat to the Senate since 1932. The SLF has reserved over $8 million in airtime for Kansas, according to AdImpact, an ad-tracking firm. Previously, the SLF was active in North Carolina, where former Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Whatley is competing against former Governor Roy Cooper, a Democrat. In September, the SLF spent over $17 million on the North Carolina race and had an additional $19 million in ads booked until Election Day, but it has now decided against further spending there.
Trump and Vice President JD Vance campaigned in North Carolina last month to support Whatley, who was encouraged by Trump to run for the open seat. The decision to pause spending in North Carolina suggests a diminishing confidence among Republicans regarding their chances in the state, where Cooper has been leading in recent polls and outspending Whatley. Additionally, Republican confidence in defeating Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff in Georgia has also decreased, although the SLF continues to spend in that race. In September, the SLF allocated $78 million in Texas through an affiliated group and nearly $33 million in Ohio, along with significant spending in Michigan, Iowa, and Maine.