Cooper gets $31.4M share of $111.2M spend

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(The Center Square) – The bid of Roy Cooper to the U.S. Senate is getting a $31.4 million infusion for television advertising, the Senate Majority PAC told The Center Square on Wednesday morning.

Cooper is bidding to become the first Democrat since 2008 in North Carolina to win a U.S. Senate seat, and the first to do so at the midterms since 1998. He faces Republican Michael Whatley and Libertarian Shannon Bray on Nov. 3.

"Michael Whatley has made it clear that his priority as senator will be acting as a rubber-stamp for Donald Trump's costly agenda," said Lauren French, speaking for the political action committee. "Nowhere is that truer than when he failed to secure real relief for North Carolinians after Helene or stand up for families being crushed by higher prices. Roy Cooper is putting North Carolina first – above special interests and partisan politics to ensure every North Carolinian has a senator fighting for them."

The committee is also investing $46.4 million in Ohio and $33.4 million in Maine – a $111.2 million spend.

The Senate Majority PAC is a Democratic super political action committee founded in 2011. Its purpose is to promote a majority in the upper chamber of Congress and oppose “the rise of the Republican dark money network,” its website says.

Dark money refers to organizations that spend money to influence elections and policy without disclosing donors. The Senate Majority PAC is affiliated with such groups; Whatley's campaign also has similar connections.

Cooper was twice elected governor and four times elected attorney general. Prior to that, he was a member of both the state Senate and House of Representatives, amassing a 13-0 record in elections that includes six statewide.

Polling has consistently favored Cooper, including an April poll lead of 50.4%-41.4% and a March sampling at 48.9%-41.1%. At the close of the first quarter filing with the Federal Elections Commission, he also held a cash on hand advantage of $18.4 million to $2.5 million.

North Carolina’s historical patterns yield as much intrigue as the race’s expense forecast of $750 million to $1 billion. The state has picked just three Republicans as governor since 1900. Yet federally, it has backed only two Democrats for president in 60 years and has sent only four Democrats to the U.S. Senate in 50 years.

None of the presidents (Jimmy Carter, Barrack Obama) won the state in their reelection bids, and none of the senators won a second term.