Senate Leadership Fund pulls ad support for Michael Whatley, shifts money to Kansas

What happened

The Senate Leadership Fund (SLF) said on Friday it is pulling all remaining advertising and financial support for Republican Senate candidate Michael Whatley in North Carolina. The fund will instead divert the money to back incumbent Senator Roger Marshall in Kansas.

Who is involved

• Michael Whatley – former RNC chair hand‑picked by Donald Trump to run for the open North Carolina seat.
• John Thune – Senate Majority Leader and chair of the SLF.
• Roy Cooper – Democratic governor of North Carolina who secured the party’s nomination unopposed.
• Roger Marshall – Republican senator from Kansas facing a primary challenge from pastor Adam Hamilton.
• Senate Leadership Fund – the super‑PAC that pledged $71 million to keep the North Carolina seat and had planned an additional $30 million for Whatley.

Why it matters

The decision comes as a string of polls show Cooper maintaining a solid lead over Whatley. An AARP poll released Monday gave Cooper an 11‑point advantage, and the Cook Political Report rates the North Carolina contest as “leans Democratic.”

With the Senate currently split 53‑47 in favour of Republicans, the party can afford to lose no more than three seats to retain control. The Cook Political Report rates the Kansas race as “leans Republican,” making it a more attractive target for the limited resources the SLF still controls.

What the fund said

The SLF did not issue a detailed statement but confirmed to reporters that its North Carolina advertising budget would be re‑allocated to support Marshall’s campaign. Sources close to the fund told the Guardian and other outlets that the shift reflects “an increasingly difficult political map for Republicans trying to hold control of the Senate.”

Background

Thom Tillis’s retirement opened a potentially winnable seat for Democrats. Whatley, a former RNC chair, was seen as the more moderate Trump‑backed option in a closely watched race. The SLF had already run ads linking Cooper to the 2024 murder of Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska, an effort that drew criticism for exploiting a tragedy. One of the ad’s featured victims, Ronald Hayes, later said he felt “swindled,” believing he would appear in a public‑safety spot rather than a political advertisement.

What’s next

North Carolina’s early‑voting period begins on 15 October, giving voters a month to see how the absence of SLF‑funded ads affects Whatley’s visibility. In Kansas, Marshall’s campaign will receive an infusion of cash and media buys that could help fend off Hamilton’s challenge.

Analysts say the move underscores the GOP’s strategy of concentrating resources on races deemed more winnable as the midterm calendar tightens. Whether the re‑allocation will be enough to tip either contest remains to be seen.