Internal data distributed by Republican strategists indicates that Democratic candidate Roy Cooper now holds a lead of double digits in the fight for North Carolina's Senate seat. In response to the polling slump, the super PAC Old North Action removed $6.5M in ad reservations for October, according to media tracker AdImpact. GOP officials are privately conceding the party is likely to lose the seat unless Donald Trump's approval ratings and local economic conditions improve before the midterm elections.

North Carolina has not elected a Democrat to the Senate in nearly 20 years and voted for Donald Trump in 3 consecutive elections. This spending cut reflects broader anxiety within the party, as operatives warn that Republicans are bleeding support among Latino voters and consider pulling funds from the Senate race in Georgia. Rep. Nancy Mace described the upcoming midterms as a prospective "bloodbath" for the GOP.