Republican group yanks millions from Senate race that may decide control of Congress

A Republican super PAC abruptly cut $6.5 million in planned advertising in a crucial Senate race where President Donald Trump’s endorsed candidate has consistently trailed his Democratic opponent.

Old North Action removed the October reservations from North Carolina’s Senate contest, according to Semafor, which cited AdImpact data.

“GOP super PAC Old North Action is scrapping $6.5M in ad reservations for North Carolina's Senate race set to air before the election,” Semafor congressional bureau chief Burgess Everett wrote Monday on X.

Everett said the cut comes as Republicans weigh Michael Whatley’s viability against former Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper, who has repeatedly led the Trump-backed candidate in polling.

The group has not withdrawn completely. It still has $14.5 million in advertising reserved through Election Day, Semafor reported.

And there was more movement on the ground in the important Senate race.

“Senate Leadership Fund, the main GOP Senate super PAC, also shuffled some of its reservations, removing $900,000 in broadcast buys in the state while adding $400,000 in digital ads,” the outlet said.

The organization described that shift as a routine effort to maximize viewership and still has $23.2 million reserved in the state.

Cooper and Whatley, a former Republican National Committee chairman, are locked in a closely watched race for an open seat being vacated by retiring Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC).

The multimillion-dollar advertising pullback comes just days after the president campaigned for Whatley in the state.