Republican Senate group shifts ad spending to Kansas

North Carolina spending ends

The Senate Leadership Fund, a group aligned with Senate Republican leaders, canceled its future advertising in North Carolina and launched an effort in Kansas, NBC News reported.

In North Carolina, Democratic former Gov. Roy Cooper led recent polling and had spent more than his opponent. Republican Michael Whatley, a former Republican National Committee chairman, received campaign visits from President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance after Trump encouraged him to seek retiring Republican Sen. Thom Tillis’ seat.

The Senate Leadership Fund spent more than in North Carolina during September, according to the advertising-tracking firm AdImpact. Trump said he was worried about Whatley’s race and hoped he would win.

Georgia remains active

The group has not stopped its advertising in Georgia. Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff held polling and fundraising advantages over Republican Rep. Mike Collins as the campaign entered its closing stage.

Kansas, which has not elected a Democratic senator since 1932, has drawn new attention. Republican Sen. Roger Marshall and Democratic pastor Adam Hamilton are competing for the seat, and the Senate Leadership Fund has reserved more than in Kansas airtime, AdImpact reported.

Trump carried eight of the 10 states where the group planned to advertise from October through Election Day. That spending pattern places much of the fight for Senate control in states that backed Trump.

National campaign travel

Vance is scheduled to campaign in Alaska. Trump is set to visit 17 states for 36 events over 30 days, a White House official said, as he campaigns ahead of the midterm elections.

The travel and advertising decisions show where Republican leaders are directing time and money. They do not determine the outcomes in North Carolina, Georgia, Kansas or other Senate contests.