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.

Republicans are renewing their immigration attack on former Gov. Roy Cooper, using the case of a Nicaraguan national arrested in Winston-Salem to argue that Cooper’s vetoes made the state less safe.

The National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) said Humberto Narvaez Sandoval was arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) after earlier arrests. Its July 22 release linked him to a Winston-Salem burglary case and court entries involving trespass, a concealed gun, firing a weapon inside city limits, impaired driving, resisting an officer, probation violations and reckless driving.

NRSC Press Secretary Nick Puglia said Cooper’s “soft-on-crime, sanctuary policies” allowed Sandoval to remain free. The committee pointed to Cooper’s 2019 veto of House Bill 370. Cooper called the measure unconstitutional and argued that it would force sheriffs to act as federal agents.

Cooper vetoed a similar measure in 2024, but Republican lawmakers overrode him and enacted House Bill 10. The law requires jail officials to check the immigration status of people charged with specified crimes and can keep someone subject to an immigration detainer and judicial order in custody for up to 48 hours.

The NRSC called North Carolina under Cooper a “sanctuary state,” but state law has prohibited cities from adopting policies that restrict federal immigration enforcement since 2015. The phrase is a political characterization, not an official state designation.

The attack lands in the Senate race between Cooper and Republican Michael Whatley for the seat being vacated by Sen. Thom Tillis. Immigration and public safety are becoming central Republican lines of attack in a contest that could help determine Senate control.

Cary residents packed Town Hall Thursday night and confronted elected leaders after a state investigation described excessive spending, weak controls and poor oversight of taxpayer money.

At the council’s first regular meeting since the report’s release, speakers accused members of ignoring warning signs and leaning too heavily on former Town Manager Sean Stegall. Some demanded resignations or a recall process, while one resident called the council’s claim that Stegall alone dominated town government “pathetic,” FOX8 reported. 

The North Carolina Office of the State Auditor found Cary had issued 828 procurement cards to about 62% of employees, compared with a 16% average among nine other large municipalities. Employees made more than 60,000 card transactions totaling $24.2 million from January 2024 through December 2025. Auditors did not label that entire sum improper, but flagged purchases lacking a clear government purpose or appearing excessive. 

Examples included $121,314 for videos tied to a Wilmington retreat, $65,653 for a ghostwriter to produce a book about Stegall’s management style, $1,600 for 10 pairs of Ray-Ban sunglasses and more than $100,000 in purchases without complete receipts. 

Resident Marie Inserra urged lawmakers to authorize a local recall election. Michael Anderson asked everyone appearing in the retreat’s “Dancing Queen” documentary to resign, WRAL reported. 

An independent review commissioned by Cary echoed the oversight concerns and recommended restoring an internal auditor and notifying the council before land purchases above $300,000. The council adopted an anti-retaliation policy for employees reporting misconduct and launched a public dashboard tracking nearly 40 recommended changes. 

Stegall resigned in December 2025 after being placed on leave. Cary officials say he restricted information reaching council members, but State Auditor Dave Boliek said elected leaders failed to ask tough questions. Thursday’s backlash showed promised reforms have not ended demands for accountability.