Republicans Cut Spending in Key Senate Battlegrounds

Republican strategists are reducing financial investments in critical Senate races as candidates face declining poll numbers ahead of the November 3 midterm elections. In North Carolina, a GOP super PAC canceled $6.5 million in advertising reservations, while a super PAC linked to Senate Majority Leader John Thune canceled $500,000 in Georgia. These cuts follow YouGov polls showing Democratic nominees leading by 11 percentage points in North Carolina and 10 percentage points in Georgia.

Michael Whatley, the former Republican National Committee chairman running for the North Carolina seat, consistently trails former Governor Roy Cooper. GOP strategists attribute these struggles to the low approval ratings of President Donald Trump among unaffiliated voters. Despite the cuts, some national groups have maintained funding, including $50 million set aside by the Senate Republicans' spending arm. Whatley has refused to distance himself from the president, stating he is still with him.

Broader Republican vulnerability is appearing across several states. The Cook Political Report shifted Senate race ratings in Kansas from likely Republican to lean Republican and South Carolina from solid Republican to likely Republican. In Texas, Democratic State Representative James Talarico leads Attorney General Ken Paxton for the U.S. Senate seat. These declines are linked to the economic impact of the war with Iran, which has raised diesel and gasoline prices, particularly affecting the agricultural sector in states like Iowa and Kansas.