Michael Whatley, the Republican candidate for the Senate in North Carolina, doesn’t have ad time booked in the battleground state, but his campaign says he’s not giving up.
AdImpact, a political advertising tracker, reported Wednesday that Mr. Whatley’s campaign had “no future linear ad reservations booked” for the Senate race.
His opponent, Democratic former Gov. Roy Cooper, has $7.4 million in future advertising reserved.
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Pro-Democratic outside groups also out-booked pro-Republican outside groups, $11.2 million to $4.7 million.
Early voting began Thursday in the state, with two weeks remaining until Election Day on Nov. 3.
Charlotte’s WSOC-TV reported that DJ Griffin, Mr. Whatley’s spokesman, said in a statement that the campaign isn’t off the air for good.
“It’s a temporary pause and we’ll be back on the air shortly with our closing message,” Mr. Griffin said. “For now, we are better targeting our resources to focus on what NC is famous for — voters who decide late and typically break for Republicans.”
He added, “We are confident we have the resources needed to win the only poll that matters — Election Day in November.”
The Cook Political Report rates the race as likely Democratic.
Democrats need to net four seats to gain control of the Senate.
Mr. Cooper, who has been elected six times statewide as attorney general and governor, has long led in polling, including by double digits in some surveys.
Mr. Whatley is an ally of President Trump and served as chairman of the Republican National Committee from 2024 to 2025.
He entered the Senate race with the president’s endorsement after incumbent Republican Sen. Thom Tillis, who often butts heads with Mr. Trump, dropped out of the race.
Mr. Whatley will rally with the president on Tuesday.
Mr. Cooper has said Mr. Whatley will “do and say whatever this president tells him to do and say.”
Meanwhile, Mr. Whatley has sought to depict Mr. Cooper as being out of touch with the state, saying he “stands with the socialist radicals.”
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