Former North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper (D) leads his Republican challenger, ex-Republican National Committee Chair Michael Whatley, by 9 points in the North Carolina Senate race, according to a new Fox News poll. The survey, conducted from July 23-27 among 1,005 registered voters, found that 53% of respondents prefer Cooper, while 44% support Whatley. The poll has a margin of error of 3 percentage points.
Part 1: Immediate Action & Core Facts
The poll results indicate a significant lead for Cooper in a race to replace incumbent Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.). President Donald Trump has endorsed Whatley, but the poll shows that 48% of voters are concerned about Whatley's ties to the White House, while 50% are not. Meanwhile, 42% of voters worry about Cooper's connection to the Democratic establishment, with 56% expressing no concern.
Part 2: Deeper Dive & Context
Campaign Strategies and Super PAC Involvement
Both campaigns are actively engaging in large-scale digital ad buys and receiving support from super PACs. The Republican-linked Super Leadership Fund launched a $17 million ad campaign criticizing Cooper's record as governor and portraying him as soft on crime. The Democratic-aligned WinSenate PAC announced a $2.26 million ad buy, attacking Whatley for hiring a convicted child sex offender during his tenure as chair of the North Carolina Republican Party.
National Implications
The Fox News poll is part of a series of surveys across key Senate battlegrounds, including Iowa, Georgia, and Ohio, where Democratic candidates are leading. The data suggests that Republican candidates closely aligned with President Trump may face challenges in maintaining voter support. Inflation remains the top issue for voters, but Republican candidates are not consistently benefiting from economic anxiety.
Voter Sentiment
Across the four states surveyed, more voters express concern about Republican candidates' ties to Trump than about Democratic candidates being too liberal. This trend raises questions about the effectiveness of Trump's endorsements in key races.
Campaign Responses
Newsweek contacted all campaigns mentioned in the article for further comment, but responses were not provided in the available coverage.