A Republican super PAC is pouring $17 million into North Carolina television and digital advertising to boost former Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Whatley, opening what is expected to be one of the country’s most expensive Senate races.

The Senate Leadership Fund campaign is the group’s largest ad reservation in any state so far this cycle and the first portion of its previously announced $71 million commitment to elect Whatley. The summer buy will run across broadcast television, cable and streaming, with direct mail and text messaging planned. 

The opening 30-second spot targets former Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper’s criminal justice record. Senate Leadership Fund argues Cooper’s administration agreed to early release 3,500 inmates under a 2021 settlement over COVID-19 conditions in state prisons and says some later faced new violent-crime charges. The group launched the campaign under the theme “40 Years Is Enough,” a reference to Cooper’s career in state politics. 

Cooper’s campaign called the attacks false, saying his administration fought the underlying lawsuit and that corrections and parole officials used criteria similar to federal pandemic release rules. A recent Assembly review found the settlement’s list included people who were not actually released early and that more than 90% of roughly 3,000 early-release inmates would have finished their sentences by the end of 2021 anyway. 

The spending helps offset Cooper’s candidate-level financial advantage. WRAL reported Cooper raised $14.8 million in the second quarter, compared with $5 million for Whatley. Democrats are bringing outside money too: Senate Majority PAC has now committed about $42 million to support Cooper. 

The race is for the seat of retiring Republican Sen. Thom Tillis and could help determine Senate control. The $17 million opening salvo confirms North Carolina will be saturated with national money and negative advertising through November.

Two absences in the North Carolina House gave Republicans the opening they needed to override four of Gov. Josh Stein’s vetoes, advancing restrictions on diversity programs and expanded cooperation with federal immigration authorities.

Republican leaders called the votes June 24 after unaffiliated Rep. Carla Cunningham and Democratic Rep. Shelly Willingham were absent from the afternoon session, Axios reported. Republican Rep. Dan Kiger had recently been seated to replace former Rep. Sarah Stevens, bringing the Republican caucus back to 71 members. 

Each override passed 71-47, barely clearing the three-fifths threshold because only 118 votes were cast. With all 120 House seats participating, Republicans would have needed 72 votes and support from outside their caucus. 

Three measures immediately became law because the Senate had already overridden Stein’s vetoes. The North Carolina Border Protection Act requires several state law enforcement agencies to enter formal 287(g) agreements with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and strengthens restrictions on sanctuary policies. 

Senate Bill 227 limits diversity, equity and inclusion programs in K-12 public schools and bars promotion of specified “divisive concepts.” Senate Bill 558 imposes similar restrictions on public universities and community colleges, including limits on required diversity training and coursework. 

The House overrode Stein’s veto of House Bill 171, which would prohibit diversity initiatives in state agencies and restrict public money for related offices, positions and training. That measure still needs a Senate override before becoming law. 

House Speaker Destin Hall defended the votes, saying the bills had already received extensive debate. Stein accused lawmakers of “stoking the culture wars” while delaying teacher and law enforcement raises and a state budget. 

The episode underscored the fragile balance in Raleigh. Republicans remain one seat short of an automatic veto-proof House majority, but attendance alone can determine whether Stein’s objections survive.

Five North Carolina House Democrats could help Republicans override Gov. Josh Stein’s veto of a statewide public camping ban when lawmakers return to Raleigh Aug. 4.

The House placed House Bill 437 on its Aug. 4 calendar July 27, formally setting up a possible override vote. The measure would bar local governments from allowing regular sleeping or camping on most public property, create drug-free zones around homeless service facilities and let residents or businesses sue governments accused of failing to enforce the restrictions. 

The political fight is unusual because the final version already attracted support from five sitting Democrats. Democratic Reps. Bryan Cohn, Abe Jones, Garland Pierce, Dante Pittman and Shelly Willingham joined Republicans in the June 30 House concurrence vote, which passed 73-40. Willingham is listed as a bill sponsor. Unaffiliated Reps. Carla Cunningham and Nasif Majeed, both former Democrats, voted yes as well. 

Republicans hold 71 of the House’s 120 seats, leaving them one vote short of the 72 needed if every member participates. The seven non-Republican supporters therefore give Republican leaders several paths to override the veto, although none is required to repeat an earlier vote during the override. 

Stein vetoed the bill July 8, calling it poorly constructed and a significant unfunded mandate for local governments. He argued it would make homelessness and addiction harder to address. Republican supporters say the restrictions would improve public safety, curb drug activity near shelters and protect access to possible federal funding. 

The pending vote offers a current test of Democratic unity after several crossover lawmakers helped Republicans override Stein in 2025. The question is no longer what Democrats did last year, but whether any sitting members will again break with their Governor when the veto returns to the House calendar Aug. 4.