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111 ads analyzed · 60 use a rhetorical technique, most often loaded language and appeal to fear.
The words doing the persuading
From the Cooper side · Paid for by WINSENATE“Would you associate with a convicted sex predator? Would you hire one? Michael Whatley did. He ignored the disturbing conviction of Harvey…”Loaded LanguageSee this ad →
From the Whatley side · Paid for by SLF PAC“Roy Cooper let 3,500 CRIMINALS out on the street.
18 of them were murderers. One stabbed a woman to death, leaving…”Loaded LanguageSee this ad →
Roy Cooper (Democrat) and Michael Whatley (Republican) are the nominees for North Carolina's U.S. Senate seat in the November 3, 2026 general election. By their latest FEC reports, Roy Cooper's campaign had raised $49.6 million (through October 14, 2026) and Michael Whatley's campaign $13.7 million (through October 14, 2026). Outside groups have reported $4.9 million for Roy Cooper and $42.4 million against; $6.4 million for Michael Whatley and $23.5 million against. Semblen has analyzed 111 ads in this race; 60 used at least one rhetorical technique, most often loaded language and appeal to fear.
Roy Cooper (DEM), Michael Whatley (REP).
6 others filed with the FEC; any ads they ran are below. 111 ads analyzed, 60 with at least one technique in the copy.
Newest first. The paid-for-by line is the advertiser's own filing. Updated 2026-11-06. 26 ads from other advertisers shown separately below.
Also on every North Carolina ballot: 3 statewide ballot measures →The ballot wording and the official arguments, read for rhetorical techniques.
How to vote in North Carolina
From North Carolina's official election office. Each line links to the official page it came from.
Registration
Register by Fri, Oct 9 (5 p.m.; a mailed form must be received or postmarked by Oct 9; online only through NCDMV for license/ID holders). Same-day registration: at any early voting site in the voter's county Oct 15-31; not available on Election Day (passed)Source: ncsbe.gov ↗
Anyone can vote by mail; request a ballot by Tue, Oct 20 (5 p.m.); return it by Tue, Nov 3 (received by the county board by 7:30 p.m. Election Day) (passed)Source: ncsbe.gov ↗Source: ncsbe.gov ↗
Photo ID required at check-in (exceptions available by form)Source: ncsbe.gov ↗
Registration repair
Some registered voters have no N.C. driver's license/DMV ID number or Social Security number on file. If you're one of them, you may need to cast a provisional ballot and give that number when you vote, unless you add it first.Check if you need to update your registration ↗Source: ncsbe.gov ↗
Checked October 6, 2026. Rules can change; confirm with the official site before you go.
Something wrong or out of date? Tell us
A person reads every report and fixes errors the same day.
Where they stand
From each campaign's own website, summarised in plain English, with a quote where they gave one; under an issue, Senate votes for those who have cast them. Full detail and sources on each profile: Roy Cooper · Michael Whatley.
Economy and cost of livingCooper: stated · Whatley: stated
Roy Cooper (DEM)
Cooper says he wants to "make stuff cost less" through a plan covering groceries, health care, utilities, child care and housing. He says he would vote to roll back tariffs, block grocery mergers, ban algorithmic pricing and rent-setting software, and restrict large investors from buying single-family homes.
“Look, I will vote to roll back the tariffs. Michael Whatley won’t,”
Whatley says he will fight for every family to make more and keep more of their own money. He says Democrats' spending and inflation have made it hard for families to make ends meet.
“I will fight for every family to make more and keep more of their own money”
Taxes and government spendingCooper: stated · Whatley: stated
Roy Cooper (DEM)
Cooper says he wants to expand the Child Care and Dependent Tax Credit and give employers tax credits for on-site child care or employee child care help. He says tax breaks should go to everyday families rather than the wealthiest.
“Instead of these tax breaks and continued loopholes for the very wealthiest among us, let’s focus it on everyday families.”
Whatley supports the Working Families Tax Cuts that Republicans passed under President Trump, which he says return thousands of dollars to families and seniors. He says his opponent Roy Cooper opposes the bill and wants people to pay more taxes, and he criticises Democrats' tax-and-spend agenda.
Cooper says he would let doctors rather than insurers make coverage decisions, reinstate the ACA tax credits, reverse Medicaid cuts, cap annual out-of-pocket prescription drug costs, and ban surprise billing. He also wants to broaden Medicare drug price negotiations, crack down on pharmacy benefit managers and require hospitals to auto-enroll patients in charity care.
“We have to cap annual prescription drug out-of-pocket costs for consumers.”
Whatley backs the Rural Health Transformation Program, which he says brings over $200 million to North Carolina's rural health care. He also credits TrumpRX and Most Favored Nation pricing with lowering prescription drug costs, and says Cooper let premiums rise 183%.
Social Security and MedicareCooper: stated · Whatley: no position
Roy Cooper (DEM)
Cooper says he wants to protect Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security. He also says he would require Medicare to broaden its negotiations with drug makers to make more prescription medicines affordable.
“I’m ready to be an independent voice for North Carolina focused on better paying jobs, affordable health care, protecting Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security and just making stuff cost less.”
Immigration and the borderCooper: no position · Whatley: no position
Roy Cooper (DEM)
No stated position on their website.
Michael Whatley (REP)
No stated position on their website.
AbortionCooper: stated · Whatley: no position
Roy Cooper (DEM)
Cooper says he vetoed an abortion ban as Governor and fought to protect and expand reproductive rights. He says that as Senator he would keep working to protect reproductive freedom.
“As Senator, I’ll continue working to beat back extreme policies and protect reproductive freedom.”
Energy and climateCooper: stated · Whatley: stated
Roy Cooper (DEM)
Cooper says he wants to lower utility bills by making data centers pay the full cost of the power they use, encouraging large tech companies to build their own energy sources, and modernizing the energy grid. He also wants to ban utilities from cutting off power during dangerous heat and cold.
Whatley says he led the Trump transition's energy, environment and agriculture teams, which developed an Energy Plan that he says delivered lower energy prices for families and businesses.
Crime and policingCooper: no position · Whatley: stated
Roy Cooper (DEM)
No stated position on their website.
Michael Whatley (REP)
Whatley says he will back law enforcement, make sure officers have the resources they need, and work with President Trump to restore law and order. He opposes cashless bail and pretrial release policies and sanctuary city policies, and says Roy Cooper's release of about 4,200 prisoners put North Carolinians in danger. He is endorsed by the state Police Benevolent Association and Fraternal Order of Police.
“I will stand shoulder to shoulder with President Trump to restore law and order, roll back dangerous and lenient Democrat policies, back the blue without apology”
EducationCooper: no position · Whatley: no position
Roy Cooper (DEM)
No stated position on their website.
Michael Whatley (REP)
No stated position on their website.
Foreign policy and defenseCooper: no position · Whatley: no position
Roy Cooper (DEM)
No stated position on their website.
Michael Whatley (REP)
No stated position on their website.
Elections and ethics in governmentCooper: no position · Whatley: no position
Roy Cooper (DEM)
No stated position on their website.
Michael Whatley (REP)
No stated position on their website.
Something wrong or missing? Each profile has an Accurate? button under every issue; a person reads every note.
Ratings and endorsements
How groups that score Congress rate each candidate, exactly as each group published it, with the year. Below the ratings, each group's 2026 endorsements and the anti-tax pledge, labelled as such. We don't combine or adjust them; the list of groups is fixed and the same in every race. Each is marked national or state: all are national except the state AFL-CIO federations and police lodges. Sources and what each group is on each profile: Roy Cooper · Michael Whatley.
Roy Cooper and Michael Whatley have not served in Congress, so the groups that score votes in Congress have no rating for them. Only groups that grade or endorse candidates are shown: the NRA grades every candidate, and Brady and Giffords say which ones they endorse.
Energy and environment
Group
Roy Cooper (DEM)
Michael Whatley (REP)
American Energy Alliance(national)A free-market energy group that supports oil, gas and coal and opposes climate regulation. Scores energy and climate votes it picks; a higher score means more often siding with AEA.
Not rated
Not rated
League of Conservation Voters(national)An environmental group. Scores votes it picks on the environment, climate, energy and public lands; a higher score means more often voting the way LCV wanted.
Not rated
Not rated
LCV Action Fund(national)The political arm of the League of Conservation Voters, an environmental group. Endorses candidates it judges pro-environment, mostly Democrats.
ClearPath Action Fund(national)A clean-energy group that backs nuclear, natural gas, hydropower and faster permitting, and endorses Republicans only. The closest energy-side group that publishes endorsements; not a mirror of LCV.
Not endorsed
Not endorsed
Abortion
Group
Roy Cooper (DEM)
Michael Whatley (REP)
SBA Pro-Life America(national)An anti-abortion group. Grades A+ to F on abortion-related votes it picks; A+ means most often voting the way SBA wanted.
Not rated
Not rated
Reproductive Freedom for All(national)An abortion-rights group, formerly NARAL Pro-Choice America. Scores abortion and reproductive-health votes it picks; a higher score means more often voting the way it wanted.
Endorsed2026, national (SBA Pro-Life America Candidate Fund)
Reproductive Freedom for All (2026 endorsements)(national)The abortion-rights group formerly called NARAL Pro-Choice America. Endorses candidates who support abortion rights; listed here from its own 2026 list.
AFL-CIO Legislative Scorecard(national)The AFL-CIO, the largest federation of U.S. labor unions. Scores key votes it picks on workers and the economy; a higher score means more often voting the way the unions wanted.
Not rated
Not rated
Club for Growth(national)A free-market group that favors lower taxes, less spending and less regulation. Scores economic votes it picks (17 Senate and 19 House votes in 2025); a higher score means more often voting the way the Club wanted.
Not rated
Not rated
U.S. Chamber of Commerce(national)The largest U.S. business lobby. Endorses candidates it judges pro-business, mostly Republicans.
AFL-CIO (state federation)(state)State federations of the AFL-CIO, the largest U.S. union federation, endorse in their state's Senate race, mostly Democrats.
NRA Political Victory Fund (NRA-PVF)(national)The National Rifle Association's political arm, which opposes most gun restrictions. Grades A+ to F from voting records, public statements and its own questionnaire, without publishing what each grade rests on; AQ means a grade from the questionnaire alone.
Brady(national)Brady (the Brady Campaign and Brady PAC), a gun-violence-prevention group. Endorses candidates who back gun-safety laws; it does not publish a rating of every member.
Not endorsed
Not endorsed
Giffords PAC(national)The political arm of Giffords, a gun-violence-prevention group founded by former Rep. Gabby Giffords. Endorses candidates who back gun-safety laws; it does not publish a rating of every member.
Something wrong? Each profile has an Accurate? button under the ratings; a person reads every note.
Got a political text?
Paste a campaign text message you’ve received. Semblen marks the persuasion techniques in its wording and lists the factual claims it makes. Take your name out first: what you paste is analyzed and kept like any text.
Findings
As of 2026-11-06. Counts are of distinct ads; the same text run many times is one ad.
Ads analyzed
111 (Meta 95, YouTube 16) · started running between 2026-07-09 and 2026-11-04
50 of 95 (53%) flagged · Loaded Language (33), Appeal to Fear (17), Glittering Generalities (13)
YouTube
10 of 16 (62%) flagged · Loaded Language (7), Appeal to Fear (4), Glittering Generalities (4)
Reported Meta spend
$599,000–786,580 on all ads, $479,400–616,157 on flagged ads · Meta reports ranges; these are the sums of their ends
Example
“convicted sex predator” — Loaded Language, paid for by WINSENATE
· the flagged ad with the highest reported spend that shows the most common technique
A small box with these findings and the newest ads, updated as new ads are analyzed. Free for newsrooms, blogs and campaigns alike; it links back here.
How North Carolina compares
54% of the ads here use at least one rhetorical technique, 3rd highest of 14 Senate races.
Roy Cooper won. Get what Roy Cooper says in office by email, analyzed for rhetorical techniques, once sworn in. And an email if the result changes: a recount or a call reversed. One-click unsubscribe.
Confirming also makes your free Semblen account, with a 14-day Pro trial. No card.
Each side is the campaign plus the groups backing it. How a group is placed is explained below the table.
Side
Ads
With at least one technique
Most common
Cooper (D)
50
23 of 50 (46%)
Loaded Language (14), Glittering Generalities (10), Name Calling (7)
Cooper's campaign
34
17 of 34 (50%)
Loaded Language (10), Glittering Generalities (8), Name Calling (7)
3 groups backing Cooper
16
6 of 16 (38%)
Loaded Language (4), Appeal to Fear (3), Bandwagon Appeal (2)
Whatley (R)
31
23 of 31 (74%)
Loaded Language (20), Appeal to Fear (16), Card Stacking (9)
All from 2 groups backing Whatley; none from the campaign itself.
Not placed on a side (18 sponsors)
30
14 of 30 (47%)
Loaded Language (6), Glittering Generalities (5), Bandwagon Appeal (4)
Read this before comparing the sides. Ads that attack an opponent use these techniques far more often than ads that introduce a candidate, whoever runs them, so the side running more attack ads shows a higher share. A technique is about wording, not about whether an ad is true. These are online ads only (Meta and YouTube), not television.
Bandwagon Appeal (1), Loaded Language (1), Name Calling (1)
How a group is placed: by its own filings with the Federal Election Commission. A group is with a candidate when it reported spending to support that candidate, or to oppose the other one in the general election. The parties' own committees are with their nominee. Spending against a candidate in a primary places a group nowhere, and neither does our reading of its ads: a group with no such filing is listed as not placed. The sponsor table gives the reason for each.
Decide what counts
Not everyone would call every technique a problem. Untick the ones you'd call ordinary persuasion and the count updates.
54% of the 111 ads here use at least one of the techniques ticked below (60 ads).
Leaving out the softer ones (loaded language, glittering generalities, slogans, exaggeration, repetition): 40% of ads.
The words doing the work
The words that show up most in phrases our model flagged as loaded language or name calling in this race's ads, by number of ads.
criminalin 14 ads· e.g. “CRIMINALS”, “set free more criminals”
casualtyin 4 ads· e.g. “casualty”, “casualty of a leftist agenda”
MAGAin 4 ads· e.g. “MAGA politicians like Whatley”, “Trump-backed MAGA opponent”
agendain 3 ads· e.g. “a leftist agenda”, “casualty of a leftist agenda”
innocentin 3 ads· e.g. “Innocent families paid the price”, “innocent North Carolina families”
offenderin 3 ads· e.g. “violent repeat offenders”, “known sex offender”
opponentin 3 ads· e.g. “Trump-backed MAGA opponent”, “Trump-backed MAGA opponent, Michael Whatley”
sexin 3 ads· e.g. “known sex offender”, “a known child sex offender”
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Money in this race
From FEC filings for 2025–26. Outside spending is money a group spends on its own about a candidate — TV and online ads, mail, canvassing. It is not a donation to the campaign, and the candidate does not control it. Supporting means it was spent to help that candidate win; Opposing means it was spent to defeat them, usually on attack ads. Groups report it within 24 or 48 hours as the election nears. Raised is the campaign's own fundraising, as of its latest quarterly report. Largest donors come from each outside spender's own FEC receipts, with each donor's share of its itemized receipts; donors under $100,000 are not named. People are shown with the employer and occupation they reported. A donor that is itself a political committee is shown with its own largest donors. Companies and nonprofits don't report their funders to the FEC, so the trail ends there, and the page says so.
$49.6M through 2026-10-14individuals $18.0M · PACs $932K · party $72K · from the candidate's other committees $28.3M · cash on hand $9.1M
Outside spending
$42.4M opposing Cooper · $4.9M supporting Cooper· latest reported 2026-11-03
Largest outside spenders
SLF PAC— $30.2M opposing Cooper
· 25 ads on this pageLargest donors:
ONE NATION $70.7M (28%) (an organization: its own funders aren't reported to the FEC); Miriam Adelson $30.0M (12%), Adelson Drug Clinic, Physician; Stephen A Schwarzman $17.0M (7%), Blackstone, Chairman & CEO; Paul Elliott Singer $14.5M (6%), EMC, President; Elon Musk $10.0M (4%), Space Exploration Technologies Corp., CEONO GOING BACK PAC INC.— $9.1M opposing CooperAMERICANS FOR PROSPERITY ACTION, INC. (AFP ACTION) DBA CVA ACTION AND DBA LIBRE ACTION— $1.8M opposing Cooper
· 6 ads on this pageLargest donors:
KOCH INC $30.0M (33%) (an organization: its own funders aren't reported to the FEC); STAND TOGETHER INC. $20.0M (22%) (an organization: its own funders aren't reported to the FEC); Jim C Walton $7.0M (8%), Self-Employed, Philanthropist; S Robson Walton $7.0M (8%), Retired, Retired; STAND TOGETHER CHAMBER OF COMMERCE INC $6.5M (7%) (an organization: its own funders aren't reported to the FEC)PLANNED PARENTHOOD VOTES NORTH CAROLINA— $1.2M supporting CooperNC FIRST PAC— $1.2M opposing Cooperand 47 more
WINSENATE— $21.6M opposing Whatley
· 6 ads on this pageLargest donors:
SMP $4.1M (100%) (its largest donors: MAJORITY FORWARD $61.0M, an organization; Fred Eychaner $9.0M; DEMOCRACY PAC $9.0M)AMERICANS FOR PROSPERITY ACTION, INC. (AFP ACTION) DBA CVA ACTION AND DBA LIBRE ACTION— $4.4M supporting Whatley
· 6 ads on this pageLargest donors:
KOCH INC $30.0M (33%) (an organization: its own funders aren't reported to the FEC); STAND TOGETHER INC. $20.0M (22%) (an organization: its own funders aren't reported to the FEC); Jim C Walton $7.0M (8%), Self-Employed, Philanthropist; S Robson Walton $7.0M (8%), Retired, Retired; STAND TOGETHER CHAMBER OF COMMERCE INC $6.5M (7%) (an organization: its own funders aren't reported to the FEC)NO GOING BACK PAC INC.— $1.3M supporting WhatleySLF PAC— $658K supporting Whatley
· 25 ads on this pageLargest donors:
ONE NATION $70.7M (28%) (an organization: its own funders aren't reported to the FEC); Miriam Adelson $30.0M (12%), Adelson Drug Clinic, Physician; Stephen A Schwarzman $17.0M (7%), Blackstone, Chairman & CEO; Paul Elliott Singer $14.5M (6%), EMC, President; Elon Musk $10.0M (4%), Space Exploration Technologies Corp., CEOLCV VICTORY FUND— $500K opposing WhatleyLargest donors:
LEAGUE OF CONSERVATION VOTERS, INC. $18.0M (81%) (an organization: its own funders aren't reported to the FEC); Amos Hostetter $600K (3%), Pilot House Associates LLC, Chairman; DEMOCRACY PAC $500K (2%); Giovanna Randall $375K (2%), Randall Apparel, Designer; Eric Laufer $375K (2%), Laufer Wind Group, Film Producerand 13 more
DEVON ENERGY CORPORATION POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE (DEC PAC) $5,000
DIRIGO PAC $10K
DUKE ENERGY CORPORATION EMPLOYEE POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE, ELIZABETH $10K
E-PAC $10K
ELECTING MAJORITY MAKING EFFECTIVE REPUBLICANS PAC $5,000
ENERGY MARKETERS OF AMERICA SMALL BUSINESS COMMITTEE PAC (EMA SBC PAC) $1,000
FEDERAL BIPARTISAN VOLUNTARY PUBLIC AFFAIRS COMMITTEE OF THE PNC FINANCIAL SERVICES GROUP, INC. (PNC $10K
FIGHT ON PAC $5,000
FIRST IN FREEDOM PAC $10K
FLORIDA LEADS $10K
FREEDOM FOR AMERICA (FFA PAC) $5,000
FREEDOM FUND $10K
FRIENDS OF TIM MOORE $4,000
FUND FOR AMERICA'S FUTURE $10K
HALLIBURTON COMPANY PAC $5,000
HEARTLAND VALUES PAC $10K
HELPING EXCEPTIONAL LEADERS ORGANIZE PAC (HELO PAC) $5,000
HF SINCLAIR POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE (DINO PAC) $2,000
HORNETS NEST REPUBLICAN MENS CLUB $1,000
HUCK PAC FOR AMERICA $10K
HUDSON FOR CONGRESS $4,000
IN THE ARENA PAC $5,000
INNOVATION POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE $5,000
IPAA WILDCATTERS FUND $5,000
JOBS OPPORTUNITY NOW POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE $10K
JOHNSTON CO REPUBLICAN WOMEN $300
KOCH, INC. POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE (KOCHPAC) $10K
LEAD ENCOURAGE ELECT PAC $10K
LEADERSHIP AND ACCOUNTABILITY ARE NATIONAL KEYS PAC $10K
LETS GET TO WORK PAC $10K
LIFEPOINT HEALTH PAC - THE PAC OF LIFEPOINT CORPORATE SERVICES, GENERAL PARTNERSHIP (LCSGP) AND FACILITIES WHICH ARE SUBSIDIARIES OF LIFEPOINT HEALTH (COLLECTIVELY LIFEPOINT) $3,500
LINCOLN COUNTY REPUBLICAN PARTY $300
MAKING A RESPONSIBLE STAND FOR HOUSEHOLDS IN AMERICA PAC $10K
MARATHON PETROLEUM CORPORATION EMPLOYEES POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE (MPAC) $5,000
MARK HARRIS FOR CONGRESS $2,000
MCDOWELL FOR CONGRESS $4,000
MR PAC $10K
MVL PAC $10K
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF MUTUAL INSURANCE COMPANIES PAC $4,000
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF WHOLESALER-DISTRIBUTORS POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE $5,000
NATIONAL CATTLEMEN'S BEEF ASSOCIATION PAC (NCBA-PAC)) $5,000
NATIONAL COTTON COUNCIL OF AMERICA COMMITTEE FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF COTTON $10K
NATIONAL ELECTRICAL CONTRACTORS ASSOCIATION POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE $5,000
NATIONAL LIMOUSINE ASSOCIATION POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE (NLA PAC) $1,000
NATIONAL SHOOTING SPORTS FOUNDATION, INC. POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE (NSSF PAC) $2,500
NEBRASKA SANDHILLS PAC $10K
NORTH CAROLINA FIRST $10K
NORTH MECKLENBURG REPUBLICANS $1,000
OORAH! POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE $10K
OVINTIV USA INC. PAC $2,000
PAC FOR AMERICA $10K
PEACH STATE PAC $2,000
PENDER COUNTY GOP $1,000
PENNSYLVANIA HONOR $10K
PHILLIPS 66 PAC $10K
PINNACLE WEST CAPITAL CORPORATION PAC $10K
PRAYERIE PAC $3,500
RANDOLPH CO REPUBLICAN EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE $1,000
RANGER PAC $5,000
RELY ON YOUR BELIEFS FUND $1,000
RENEWABLE FUNDS ASSOCIATION PAC, GEOFF $2,500
REPUBLICAN JEWISH COALITION POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE (RJC-PAC) $5,000
REPUBLICAN MAJORITY FUND $10K
REPUBLICAN WOMEN OF GREATER CHARLOTTE $1,000
RESPONSIBILITY AND FREEDOM WORK PAC (RFWPAC) $10K
RESTORE TRUST PAC $1,000
SALEM MEDIA GROUP POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE, INC. $3,500
SCALISE FOR CONGRESS $4,000
SEAL PAC, RYAN $5,000
SENATE EAGLE PAC $10K
SEND IN THE SEAL PAC $10K
SERVICE CORPORATION INTERNATIONAL PAC $3,500
SPECIALTY EQUIPMENT MARKET ASSOCIATION & PERFORMANCE RACING, INC. PAC (SEMA & PRI PAC) $2,500
STAND FOR AMERICA PAC $5,000
STEER PAC $10K
STRATEGY PAC $10K
THE CHEMOURS COMPANY POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE CHEMOURS PAC $5,000
THE COUNCIL OF INSURANCE AGENTS & BROKERS POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE $10K
THE EYE OF THE TIGER PAC $10K
THE HAWKEYE PAC $7,500
THE OVERCASH COMMITTEE $1,000
THE PETER NORBECK LEADERSHIP PAC $10K
THE WILLIAMS COMPANIES, INC. POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE $1,000
TOMORROW IS MEANINGFUL PAC $10K
TRANSCANADA USA SERVICES, INC. PAC (TC PAC) $2,000
TRIANGLE REPUBLICAN WOMEN $230
TRUE NORTH PAC $10K
TRUIST FINANCIAL CORPORATION FEDERAL PAC (FORMERLY SUNTRUST BANKS, INC. POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE) $10K
UPPER HAND FUND $5,000
US ENERGY PAC (THE PAC OF AMERICAN EXPLORATION & PRODUCTION COUNCIL, INC.) $10K
VALERO ENERGY CORPORATION POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE $5,000
111 ads, newest first. Video transcripts are shown as the model read them, without caption cues like [music].
Paid for by Good Manners Co.from 2026-11-042 variantsspend $0–1981,100–2,998 impressions
This one for NORTH CAROLINAAAAA!
Y'all asked. Here it is.
Big Roy Cooper has never lost an election. State House. State Senate. Four terms as Attorney General. Two as Governor. Now he's headed to Capitol Hill, and the streak is still alive.
So grab a cold Cheerwine, get your tray with extra seasoned fries, and wear it proud. The wave came through, and it came through in Carolina blue.
Free shipping. Slim or Relaxed fit.
no techniques found
Looks up the ad's factual claims in fact-checkers, primary sources and wire reporting. Takes up to a minute.
Paid for by Roy Cooper for Senatevideo · 0:40from 2026-11-03
Here's to the land of the long leaf pine. The summerland where the sun doth shine. Where the weak grow strong and the strong grow great.
Here's the downfall. The old north state
Glittering Generalities: Vague, emotionally positive phrasing about people growing strong and great, with no specific meaning or substance. Flagged: “Where the weak grow strong and the strong grow great.”.
Looks up the ad's factual claims in fact-checkers, primary sources and wire reporting. Takes up to a minute.
Watch on YouTube ↗Transcript above is auto-generated; the analysis is of the spoken words.
Roy Cooper's Final Message to Voters
Paid for by Roy Cooper for Senatevideo · 1:23from 2026-11-02
I can see why a lot of people hate politics, especially around election time. Ugly name calling and obvious lies are almost everywhere you turn. So why do they do it?
Because like too many politicians in Washington DC, they decide their only path to victory is to scare and divide us. They want you to believe that people fall into only two categories. People who agree with them and people who are evil.
Well, that's just not true, and especially not in North Carolina. We're far more alike than we are different. We want our kids to get a good education.
We want to be able to afford a doctor when we need one. We want our communities to be safe, and we want to be treated with decency and respect, just like our neighbors do. We need leaders who want to help everyone accomplish those goals.
We need leaders who are willing to work with people they disagree with to find solutions. Because finding common ground to get things done will make things better for your family and for mine. I've done it before and you have my word that in the United States Senate I'll do it again.
So tomorrow, if you haven't already, go make your voice heard and vote.
Name Calling: Discredits politicians in general by labeling them as people who win by scaring and dividing, rather than addressing any specific argument. Flagged: “too many politicians in Washington DC, they decide their only path to victory is to scare and divide us”.
Loaded Language: The emotionally charged word 'evil' is used to characterize how opponents allegedly view dissenters.
Looks up the ad's factual claims in fact-checkers, primary sources and wire reporting. Takes up to a minute.
Watch on YouTube ↗Transcript above is auto-generated; the analysis is of the spoken words.
Follow Roy Cooper in office
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Paid for by Roy Cooper for Senatevideo · 1:56from 2026-11-02
I couldn't sit back and watch the people of my state get treated this way. Not without a fight. I'm running for people like John who owns a small business in Black Mountain.
He's seeing his utility bill go through the roof both at home and at his business. I'm running for Meredith who has a child, Vivian, who is on Medicaid because Vivian has cereble pausy. I'm running for people like Megan whose budgets are getting busted.
I'm running for Pender who's a farmer, for small business owners like Christina because North Carolina can't afford any more excuses. We need to make stuff cost less. We all want good things for our kids, our family, and our future families.
Everybody does. Roy Cooper stands up for everybody in North Carolina. a track record of making North Carolina better, making sure we're helping others and keeping North Carolina healthy.
As Governor Roy Cooper heard from people in his state, and he loves North Carolina. He saw hardships in his state and he worked on those hardships. boy is trying to do the best that he can for us.
And that means a lot to people to see somebody they elected, somebody they put in power, showing that they see us. You know, the people of our state inspire me every day. They work hard.
They care about their children and their parents, and they help their neighbors. North Carolinians know how to speak up when we need change. And right now, it's time for a change.
Let's win this thing, guys. Thank you, North Carolina. Thank you so very much.
Looks up the ad's factual claims in fact-checkers, primary sources and wire reporting. Takes up to a minute.
Watch on YouTube ↗Transcript above is auto-generated; the analysis is of the spoken words.
Paid for by Cooper Victory Fundfrom 2026-10-26spend $0–99100–999 impressions
FACT: Democrats haven’t won a Senate seat in North Carolina since 2008.
ALSO FACT: Roy Cooper is about to change that.
Time and again, Roy has won in this battleground state – even twice in the years that President Donald Trump won. There are two big reasons why:
1. Roy fights for working families and has delivered powerful results.
2. He’s always had a strong grassroots team by his side. It’s the only way he’ll be able to win again this year – and flip the seat Democrats need to take back the Senate.
We need your immediate grassroots support to build more momentum and fight back against all of the Republican super PAC spending. Will you chip in now to help Roy flip NC and the Senate?
Sorry to stop your scrolling. We didn’t want you to miss this message from Senator Chris Murphy.
no techniques found
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Paid for by National Security Leaders for Americafrom 2026-10-26spend $0–99100–999 impressions
Donald Trump’s failed leadership is costing North Carolina families. Retired U.S. Navy Captain Carl McCullough says what we all know: the Iran war is driving up prices at the pump and squeezing household budgets.
Roy Cooper will be a strong voice for North Carolina in Washington, focused on families here at home.
Share this video with a fellow North Carolina voter who wants leaders focused on lowering costs.
Loaded Language: The charged phrase 'failed leadership' is meant to provoke a negative reaction rather than state specific facts.
Bandwagon Appeal: The phrase 'what we all know' implies the claim is true because everyone already accepts it.
Transfer: The speaker's military rank and service are used to lend credibility and authority to a political claim. Flagged: “Retired U.S. Navy Captain Carl McCullough”.
Paid for by National Security Leaders for Americafrom 2026-10-26spend $0–99100–999 impressions
“You can’t stay the course if you don’t know where you’re going.”
Retired U.S. Navy Cmdr. Dave Petri urges his fellow North Carolinians to support Roy Cooper for U.S. Senate, pointing to his record of bipartisan leadership and bringing people together to get things done.
Share this video with a North Carolina voter and make your plan to vote this November.
no techniques found
Looks up the ad's factual claims in fact-checkers, primary sources and wire reporting. Takes up to a minute.
Paid for by MI FAMILIA VOTA EDUCATION FUNDfrom 2026-10-26spend $0–993,000–3,999 impressions
ICE operations are out of control. Our neighborhoods are being disrupted, our abuelas are being harassed, and families are being separated without basic oversight or accountability. Michael Whatley was the RNC Chair during Trump’s divisive 2024 campaign, which ran on an anti-immigration message.
MAGA politicians like Whatley want to pour billions more into unchecked enforcement with zero guardrails to protect community rights. On his website, Whatley makes it clear that his entire goal is to enact the Trump agenda, with 100% support for Trump’s mass deportation plan.
Y nuestra comunidad merece mucho mejor. Learn about the candidates that care and receive voting information by visiting porlonuestro.org
Exaggeration/Hyperbole: Sweeping claim that ICE operations are wholly beyond control, without supporting evidence. Flagged: “ICE operations are out of control”.
Loaded Language: Emotionally charged wording such as 'harassed' and 'separated' about abuelas and families is meant to provoke outrage.
Name Calling: Uses the 'MAGA politicians' label to discredit Whatley and others by ideological tag rather than addressing their arguments.
Paid for by National Security Leaders for Americafrom 2026-10-26spend $0–99100–999 impressions
Defending our Constitution requires leaders with integrity, practical solutions, and the moral courage to stand up for what’s right. Retired U.S. Army Colonel and chaplain Ken Williams endorses Roy Cooper to bring that leadership to the U.S. Senate.
Share this with a North Carolina voter who believes an oath to the Constitution comes first.
Glittering Generalities: Uses vague, noble-sounding virtues with no specific content. Flagged: “integrity, practical solutions, and the moral courage to stand up for what’s right”.
Transfer: Borrows the authority of military and clergy status to legitimize a political candidate. Flagged: “Retired U.S. Army Colonel and chaplain Ken Williams endorses Roy Cooper”.
Paid for by LA FUERZA NCfrom 2026-10-26spend $0–991,000–1,999 impressions
Roy Cooper has shown up for our community. ✊ As governor, he vetoed a bill that would have turned NC sheriffs into ICE agents and created an Advisory Council on Hispanic/Latino Affairs. Now he’s running for U.S. Senate. 🗳️
no techniques found
Looks up the ad's factual claims in fact-checkers, primary sources and wire reporting. Takes up to a minute.
Paid posts that ran in NC and name a candidate, from advertisers that aren't part of this race: news-style pages, campaigns for other offices, and others. They're shown here for completeness and not counted with the ads above. We show the same technique analysis; their claims are not checked.
Pine & Cardinal: news-style page
Paid for by Pine & Cardinalfrom 2026-10-262 variantsspend $0–198200–1,998 impressions
🚨 Vice President JD Vance announced $858 million in additional disaster relief funding during an Oct. 19 rally in Hendersonville, North Carolina. He said it will help rebuild eight major corridors damaged by Hurricane Helene, including I-40 through the Pigeon River Gorge.
Vance also said FEMA had committed $7.5 billion to Helene recovery, which he said will take years. He credited President Donald Trump, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and Michael Whatley. What do you make of the announcement? #HurricaneHelene #NorthCarolina #Infrastructure 👇
Paid for by Pine & Cardinalfrom 2026-10-262 variantsspend $0–198200–1,998 impressions
🚨 Michael Whatley, the Republican nominee for North Carolina’s open U.S. Senate seat, criticized Democratic nominee and former Gov. Roy Cooper’s opposition to major expansions of the state’s Opportunity Scholarship Program.
Whatley said education funding should follow students to charter, private or home-school settings. Cooper has argued that voucher expansion diverts resources from public schools and lacks sufficient accountability. What do you make of this? #NCSen #SchoolChoice #EducationPolicy 👇
Paid for by Pine & Cardinalfrom 2026-10-206 variantsspend $0–594600–5,994 impressions
🚨 Michael Whatley, the Republican nominee for U.S. Senate in North Carolina, attacked Democratic nominee and former Gov. Roy Cooper’s record during an interview about the 2026 race.
Whatley claimed Cooper supported criminals, undocumented immigrants, transgender participation in girls’ sports, higher taxes and higher bills. The excerpt provides no evidence for those broad campaign characterizations. Cooper has disputed the crime allegations, and available reporting does not substantiate the broad tax claim.
What do you make of Whatley’s remarks? #NCSen #NorthCarolina #Election2026 👇
Paid for by Pine & Cardinalfrom 2026-10-202 variantsspend $0–198200–1,998 impressions
🚨 President Donald Trump claimed former North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper “cut a deal” to release 3,500 inmates, including people convicted of violent crimes.
The 2021 settlement moved 3,500 people out of prison through several programs. State officials said one program excluded people serving sentences for crimes against a person. Cooper’s campaign said officials, not Cooper, made individual release decisions. What do you make of this? 👇
#RoyCooper #NorthCarolina #CriminalJustice
Paid for by The Blue Ridge Timesfrom 2026-10-15spend $0–99100–999 impressions
US Chamber Endorses Michael Whatley For Senate
“Michael Whatley knows that the best way to lift up North Carolinians—to lift their wages, expand their opportunities, make the future brighter for their children—is through a growing economy fueled by free enterprise. Michael will support the policies that will drive economic growth and improve quality of life for North Carolinians. Michael supports the policies that will enable job creators to do what they do best: serve people, solve problems, and strengthen this state. On behalf of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, it is my privilege to stand with you today and endorse your candidacy for U.S. Senate,” said Courtney Felts of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
Read more here:
LAURIE BUCKHOUT FOR CONGRESS: campaign for another office
Paid for by LAURIE BUCKHOUT FOR CONGRESSfrom 2026-10-13spend $0–992,000–2,999 impressions
Don Davis voted against $50 billion in funding for rural healthcare and supported Roy Cooper’s 2020 budget veto, which would have secured funds for ECU’s Brody School of Medicine.
NC-01 deserves better than someone who voted to kill our rural hospitals.
Loaded Language: The word 'kill' is used emotionally to characterise a vote on health policy as lethal destruction of hospitals.
Exaggeration/Hyperbole: Claims a single vote amounted to killing rural hospitals, an overstatement of what a vote's likely effects are. Flagged: “voted to kill our rural hospitals”.
Paid for by Pine & Cardinalfrom 2026-10-122 variantsspend $0–198200–1,998 impressions
🚨 A speaker in the clip says more than $100 million in North Carolina disaster aid under Gov. Roy Cooper was directed to affordable housing projects while over 1,000 families affected by Hurricanes Matthew and Florence were still waiting for repairs or rebuilding.
The speaker says state officials defended the spending as part of long-term disaster recovery that followed federal requirements. What do you make of how disaster aid should be prioritized? #NorthCarolina #DisasterRecovery #AffordableHousing 👇
Paid for by Pine & Cardinalfrom 2026-10-122 variantsspend $0–198200–1,998 impressions
🚨 Michael Whatley criticized former Gov. Roy Cooper at a press conference for vetoing two North Carolina bills in 2023, calling the vetoes “absolutely inexcusable.”
The measures addressed parental rights in education and gender-transition care for minors. Lawmakers overrode both vetoes. Cooper said decisions about gender-related care should be left to parents and medical professionals. What do you make of this? #NorthCarolina #NCSenate #NCPolitics 👇
Paid for by The Blue Ridge Timesfrom 2026-10-08spend $0–99100–999 impressions
Guest Post: Acting Army Secretary Adam Telle explains how Michael Whatley “unleashed the U.S. Army” to help western North Carolina after Hurricane Helene
Now, the Acting Secretary of the Army is joining the chorus of people who saw Whatley in action firsthand. Telle told the Reporter that “Michael’s decisive leadership on behalf of the president resulted in relief that just months earlier was unimaginable.”
Read more here:
Paid for by The Blue Ridge Timesfrom 2026-09-24spend $0–991,000–1,999 impressions
President Trump Visits North Carolina To Campaign For Republicans, Including Michael Whatley For Senate
President Trump said, "You can either vote for Roy Cooper to set loose criminals who rape and murder your children...Or you can vote for Michael Whatley to protect and defend your children...Michael Whatley is the candidate of LAW AND ORDER."
Read more here:
Black-and-White Fallacy: Presents the election as only two options, one endangering children and one protecting them. Flagged: “You can either vote for Roy Cooper to set loose criminals who rape and murder your children...Or you can vote for Michael Whatley to protect and defend your children”.
Appeal to Fear: Evokes a vivid threat of criminals raping and murdering voters' children to push a vote choice. Flagged: “set loose criminals who rape and murder your children”.
Loaded Language: Uses emotionally charged imagery of rape and murder of children to provoke a reaction rather than convey facts. Flagged: “rape and murder your children”.
Exaggeration/Hyperbole: Overstates the opponent's position as deliberately releasing child-killing criminals. Flagged: “set loose criminals who rape and murder your children”.
Glittering Generalities: Uses the vague, positively valenced slogan 'law and order' to label a candidate without specifics.
Woodson Bradley for NC: campaign for another office
Paid for by Woodson Bradley for NCfrom 2026-09-22spend $0–9910,000–14,999 impressions
When you see Roy Cooper at an event and he says “ let’s make a video and let people know I’m supporting you!” Heck Yeah!! Let’s GO!! #ncpol #ncsenate #ussenate Team Roy Cooper
Paid for by JOSH MCCONKEY FOR NCfrom 2026-09-17 to 2026-09-21spend $0–993,000–3,999 impressions
🚨 THE ROAD TO CONTROL OF THE U.S. SENATE RUNS THROUGH NORTH CAROLINA! 🇺🇸
Michael Whatley has closed the gap to just 5 points!
This race is tightening—and North Carolina could determine who controls the U.S. Senate.
Every vote matters. Every county matters. Let’s go, North Carolina! 🇺🇸
#northcarolina #NCSenate #MichaelWhatley #election2026 #NCpolitics
Exaggeration/Hyperbole: Claims that Senate control depends on one state in absolute terms, overstating its importance. Flagged: “THE ROAD TO CONTROL OF THE U.S. SENATE RUNS THROUGH NORTH CAROLINA!”.
False Urgency: The alarm emoji and all-caps framing signal a pressing, high-stakes moment to prompt immediate attention or action. Flagged: “🚨”.
Slogans: Catchy phrase used to compress a complex position into an emotionally loaded shorthand.
Paid for by Pine & Cardinalfrom 2026-09-10 to 2026-09-15spend $0–991,000–1,999 impressions
🚨 The Trump campaign has released a video backing Republican Michael Whatley in his bid for North Carolina's open U.S. Senate seat, pairing him alongside Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz at a Craven County, North Carolina event.
In the campaign video posted by @TeamTrump, Whatley pledges that he will never allow fraud in North Carolina, and the Trump campaign frames him as an anti-fraud champion who will work with Dr. Oz to root out fraud, waste, and abuse in federal government programs. All claims in the video are Trump campaign messaging and are not independently verified.
Dr. Oz, a Trump administration appointee, has claimed that fraud, waste, and abuse across Medicare, Medicaid, the Affordable Care Act, and the Children's Health Insurance Program total $100 billion, a figure Oz has cited repeatedly in public appearances. The Trump campaign video asserts that North Carolina taxpayers deserve to know where their tax dollars are being spent.
Whatley, the former Republican National Committee Chair, faces Democratic former Gov. Roy Cooper in the November 3, 2026 general election for the seat being vacated by Sen. Thom Tillis. The race is widely projected to be one of the most watched and most expensive Senate contests in the country.
What do you think: how much of a factor will the anti-fraud message be in this North Carolina Senate race? 👇
#NorthCarolina #MichaelWhatley #NCsenate #DrOz #Election2026 #Breaking
Paid for by Pine & Cardinalfrom 2026-09-10 to 2026-09-152 variantsspend $0–1982,000–3,998 impressions
🚨 North Carolina Republican Senate candidate Michael Whatley hosted a roundtable in Raleigh with angel families and families of fentanyl victims, bringing personal loss to the center of the state's immigration debate.
Whatley was joined by National Border Patrol Council President Paul Perez, as families shared their experiences with migrant crime and illicit fentanyl trafficking. The discussion centered on border security, illegal immigration, and fentanyl enforcement.
The roundtable coincided with the National Border Patrol Council's formal endorsement of Whatley in his U.S. Senate race against former Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper. Whatley and Perez also made multiple stops across North Carolina focused on border and public safety issues.
How much of a role should border security and illegal immigration play in deciding North Carolina's next senator? 👇
#NorthCarolina #BorderSecurity #Fentanyl #NCSenate #MichaelWhatley #Breaking
Paid for by The Blue Ridge Timesfrom 2026-09-10 to 2026-09-19spend $400–49925,000–29,999 impressions
Gavin Newsom Comes To North Carolina To Campaign For Former Governor Roy Cooper
“Radical Roy Cooper and his best friend Gavin Newsom are rallying today to bring California’s ‘progressive’ agenda to North Carolina. Newsflash for Cooper- North Carolina wants nothing to do with the radical destruction Newsom has unleashed onto his state. Cooper has followed the lead of Newsom time and time again- releasing violent criminals, standing with the woke mob against parents, and supporting the transgender mutilation of our kids. Cooper wants to unleash this radical left wing agenda onto North Carolina and voters are lining up to reject him this November,” said Whatley Spokesman DJ Griffin.
Read more here:
Name Calling: Labels Cooper 'Radical' as a derogatory tag instead of addressing his positions.
Loaded Language: Scare quotes around 'progressive' and the charged 'radical' frame the agenda negatively.
Exaggeration/Hyperbole: Claims Newsom has caused 'destruction' of his state and that North Carolina universally wants nothing to do with it.
Appeal to Fear: Implies threats to children and public safety from Cooper's policies. Flagged: “releasing violent criminals”.
Appeal to Prejudice: Frames transgender people and related care as mutilation of children, playing on hostility toward an identity group. Flagged: “transgender mutilation of our kids”.
Bandwagon Appeal: Suggests voters are lining up to reject Cooper, implying the crowd's view makes it correct. Flagged: “voters are lining up to reject him this November”.
Paid for by Pine & Cardinalfrom 2026-09-01 to 2026-09-08spend $0–99100–999 impressions
A new poll is showing a closer contest in North Carolina's closely watched U.S. Senate race, with just weeks remaining before Election Day.
The latest High Point University Poll found Democrat Roy Cooper leading Republican Michael Whatley 50% to 45% among likely voters. The five-point difference is narrower than the double-digit Cooper advantages found in some other recent polling.
The HPU survey also shows just how divided North Carolina's electorate remains. Likely voters were evenly split at 47%–47% on the generic U.S. House ballot, while Democrats held only narrow advantages on generic state House and Senate ballots.
The poll was conducted Aug. 3–12 and included 660 likely voters, with HPU reporting a credibility interval of approximately ±5.2 percentage points for that group. That means the individual numbers should be viewed as a snapshot rather than proof that the race has definitively tightened.
With North Carolina historically producing competitive statewide elections, both campaigns are preparing for a closely fought final stretch to November.
Paid for by Pine & Cardinalfrom 2026-08-24 to 2026-08-262 variantsspend $0–198200–1,998 impressions
📊 NEW POLL: Roy Cooper leads Michael Whatley 48%-43% in North Carolina’s U.S. Senate race, according to a new High Point University poll. The five-point gap comes as voting is set to begin in just two weeks.
Paid for by Pine & Cardinalfrom 2026-08-24 to 2026-08-262 variantsspend $0–198200–1,998 impressions
🚨 A Heritage Foundation analysis found that North Carolina health insurance premiums rose 183% during Roy Cooper's time as state attorney general and governor — a figure now at the center of a campaign attack from Republican U.S. Senate candidate Michael Whatley.
Forbes separately ranked North Carolina as the most expensive state for health care, with residents paying the highest average premiums for employer-sponsored "plus-one" coverage in the nation, at $4,781 annually.
Cooper, the Democratic Senate nominee and former two-term governor, is running on a platform of lowering healthcare costs and has vowed to take on insurance companies he says are "ripping off" North Carolina families. But financial disclosures show Cooper's campaign has accepted nearly $400,000 from insurance industry sources — including more than $84,000 from health insurance PACs tied to Anthem, Blue Cross Blue Shield of NC, Cigna, Centene, UnitedHealth Group, and CVS Health, according to the North Carolina State Board of Elections.
Whatley, a former chair of both the RNC and the North Carolina Republican Party and an endorsee of President Trump, is drawing a direct contrast between Cooper's anti-insurance rhetoric and his fundraising record. The winner of November's election will succeed Republican Sen. Thom Tillis. Do you think a candidate's donor list should disqualify them from campaigning on an issue? 👇
#NorthCarolina #RoyCooper #MichaelWhatley #NCSenate #Healthcare #Breaking
Paid for by Pine & Cardinalfrom 2026-08-24 to 2026-08-262 variantsspend $0–198200–1,998 impressions
🚨 Former North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper, now running for U.S. Senate, is pushing back on Republican claims that his administration released thousands of convicted offenders early, calling the accusation "simply not true." State records, however, show 4,234 offenders were released under a 2021 settlement between Cooper's administration and civil rights groups during the COVID-19 pandemic, 734 more than the settlement's minimum requirement.
Republican U.S. Senate nominee Michael Whatley, the former Republican National Committee chairman, has accused Cooper of releasing more than 4,200 criminals early. State Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Berger blamed Cooper for failing to properly inform the public about the releases, while House Speaker Destin Hall called them a "serious miscarriage of justice" that endangered public safety. Cooper has told reporters "the court ordered this," arguing he fought for fewer releases.
Republicans allege recidivism among those released runs as high as 57 percent according to a newly launched tracking database, with at least 18 former inmates later charged with murder and more than 80 charged with sex offenses. The debate intensified following the stabbing death of 23-year-old Iryna Zarutska, a Ukrainian refugee, on a Charlotte light rail train. Accused killer DeCarlos Brown, 34, had more than a dozen prior criminal arrests before federal prosecutors stepped in to pursue charges. Cooper's campaign has disputed Republican claims that Brown was released under the COVID-era settlement.
A joint legislative subcommittee on prisons has been formed to investigate the settlement. The North Carolina U.S. Senate race is considered one of Democrats' top pickup opportunities in 2026. What questions do you have about the releases and how they are being handled? 👇
#RoyCooper #NorthCarolina #NCSen #IrynaZarutska #CriminalJustice #Breaking
Paid for by Pine & Cardinalfrom 2026-08-12 to 2026-08-182 variantsspend $0–1982,000–3,998 impressions
🚨 The campaign of Republican U.S. Senate candidate Michael Whatley is spotlighting the case of Iryna Zarutska — a 23-year-old Ukrainian refugee fatally stabbed on a Charlotte light rail train in August 2025 — alleging her accused killer, DeCarlos Brown Jr., was among those listed in a 2021 early-release settlement approved under then-Gov. Roy Cooper's administration.
Cooper's administration released thousands of inmates under a February 2021 court settlement stemming from an ACLU and NAACP lawsuit filed during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Whatley campaign cites a watchdog database, cooperreleasedhim.com, claiming 4,234 inmates were released and that more than half have since reoffended — figures that differ from a 2024 state Sentencing Commission report, which found a 48% recidivism rate among roughly 3,500 released under the settlement.
A Cooper campaign spokesperson pushed back, saying "these blatant lies from Republicans have been fact-checked for months and found to be false," and noted that Cooper initially fought the releases in court before the settlement was reached. North Carolina has since enacted Iryna's Law (House Bill 307), overhauling bail and pretrial rules for violent offenders in the wake of Zarutska's death.
Whatley, a former Republican National Committee chair and close Trump ally, is challenging Cooper for the open U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Sen. Thom Tillis in one of the most closely watched races of 2026. Should early-release decisions made during the COVID-19 pandemic be a central issue in this Senate race? 👇
#IrynaZarutska #NorthCarolina #RoyCooper #MichaelWhatley #NCSenate #Breaking
Paid for by Pine & Cardinalfrom 2026-08-12 to 2026-08-182 variantsspend $0–1983,000–4,998 impressions
🚨 Republican U.S. Senate candidate Michael Whatley is targeting Democratic rival Roy Cooper's record on voter identification, highlighting multiple vetoes Cooper issued as Governor of North Carolina against voter ID legislation — including a bill that voters had approved by constitutional amendment with more than 55% of the vote.
According to Whatley's campaign, Cooper's veto of S.B. 824 was overridden by the Republican-led legislature in 2018, but a half-decade of litigation followed before the voter ID requirement was implemented. Cooper's office also filed lawsuits challenging separate election law measures, including S.B. 512 and S.B. 747.
Whatley, the former Chairman of both the North Carolina Republican Party and the Republican National Committee, is also pressing Cooper on his stance toward the federal SAVE America Act — which requires documentary proof of citizenship at voter registration and photo ID at the polls. The bill has passed the House but remains stalled in the Senate.
The two are competing in North Carolina's 2026 U.S. Senate race for the seat being vacated by Republican Sen. Thom Tillis. The contest is considered one of Democrats' strongest pickup opportunities in the 2026 midterms. 👇
Do you think proof of citizenship and photo ID should be required to vote — and should a candidate's record on that issue influence your vote? Drop your thoughts below.
#VoterID #SAVEAct #NorthCarolina #NCSen #NCPolitics #Breaking
Paid for by Pine & Cardinalfrom 2026-08-12 to 2026-08-182 variantsspend $0–1984,000–5,998 impressions
🚨 Republican U.S. Senate candidate Michael Whatley's campaign is targeting former Gov. Roy Cooper over his 2019 veto of legislation that would have required North Carolina sheriffs to cooperate with ICE.
Whatley's "Whatley War Room" campaign account says Cooper sided with illegal immigrants and criminals over North Carolinians. Cooper, at the time of his veto, stated: "Current law allows the state to jail and prosecute dangerous criminals regardless of immigration status. This bill, in addition to being unconstitutional, weakens law enforcement in North Carolina by mandating sheriffs to do the job of federal agents."
Republican sources — citing NRSC opposition research — also allege Cooper released more than 3,500 violent criminal offenders during his time as governor, including DeCarlos Brown Jr., who they say murdered a Ukrainian immigrant on her way home from work. Independent verification of that figure is recommended. Whatley, the former Republican National Committee chair and Trump-endorsed candidate, has made public safety a centerpiece of his campaign, saying: "We need policies that are going to put more cops on the street... and we need policies that are going to put dangerous criminals behind bars, not back on our streets."
Cooper and Whatley are facing off for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Republican Sen. Thom Tillis. A May 2026 Carolina Journal poll of 600 likely voters showed Cooper leading Whatley 49.8% to 38.7%. The race is projected to be one of the costliest Senate contests in history, potentially exceeding $800 million.
Do you think a gubernatorial veto record is fair game in a Senate race? 👇
#NorthCarolina #NCSen #RoyCooper #MichaelWhatley #Senate2026 #Breaking
Paid for by Pine & Cardinalfrom 2026-08-12 to 2026-08-182 variantsspend $0–1982,000–3,998 impressions
🚨 Republican U.S. Senate candidate Michael Whatley is making public safety the centerpiece of his closing argument to North Carolina voters — citing endorsements from the state's largest law enforcement organizations.
Whatley received the unanimous endorsement of the North Carolina Police Benevolent Association, the state's largest law enforcement advocacy group with 17,700 members, in a press event in Raleigh on July 9. His campaign also previously accepted the endorsement of the North Carolina Troopers Association. The endorsements come as Whatley wraps up a 100-county tour across the state ahead of the November 3 general election.
His campaign is using those endorsements to draw a contrast with Democratic opponent and former Gov. Roy Cooper over a February 2021 settlement Cooper's administration reached with the ACLU of North Carolina that lowered the state prison population by at least 3,500 inmates during the COVID-19 pandemic. A politically funded database, CooperReleasedHim.com, claims a reoffense rate of nearly 57% among those released. Cooper has told reporters he opposed the releases, stating, "First, the court ordered this." A Cooper campaign spokesperson called the Republican attacks "blatant lies" that "have been fact-checked for months and found to be false."
The race to replace retiring Republican Sen. Thom Tillis is projected to be one of the most expensive Senate contests in the nation's history. Democrats have not won a U.S. Senate race in North Carolina since 2008.
What do you think — how much will public safety endorsements matter to North Carolina voters this November? 👇
#NorthCarolina #NCSenate #MichaelWhatley #RoyCooper #PublicSafety #Breaking
Paid for by Pine & Cardinalfrom 2026-08-12 to 2026-08-182 variantsspend $0–1984,000–5,998 impressions
🚨 North Carolina Republican Senate candidate Michael Whatley is attacking Democrat Roy Cooper's criminal justice record as governor, pointing to a COVID-era settlement in which Cooper's administration released roughly 3,500 convicted criminals from prison after being sued by the ACLU and the NAACP. Some reports put the total figure as high as 4,200.
A 2024 report from North Carolina's Sentencing and Policy Advisory Commission found that the recidivism rate for those released under the settlement reached 48%, higher than the 44% rate for the broader prison population released during fiscal year 2021. Among those released was DeCarlos Brown Jr., who murdered Ukrainian immigrant Iryna Zarutska on her way home from work. Iryna's Law, named in her memory and signed by Gov. Josh Stein in October 2025, overhauled parts of the state's criminal justice system, tightening pretrial release proceedings and adding new aggravating sentencing factors. Whatley says the law rolls back policies from the Cooper era.
Just hours before leaving office, Cooper also commuted the sentences of 15 death row inmates, a move that drew sharp criticism from victims' families. Whatley, a former Chairman of the Republican National Committee and close ally of President Trump, has made Cooper's record a central focus of his campaign. A spokesperson for Cooper's campaign called the attacks "blatant lies" that "have been fact-checked for months and found to be false," arguing Cooper fought the releases in court and that law enforcement officials determined who was let go.
The North Carolina Senate race, set to fill the seat being vacated by Sen. Thom Tillis, is projected to be one of the most expensive in the nation's history. Should Cooper's COVID-era criminal justice decisions be a defining issue in this race? 👇
#NorthCarolina #MichaelWhatley #RoyCooper #IrynasLaw #NCSenate #Breaking
Paid for by The Blue Ridge Timesfrom 2026-07-30 to 2026-08-05spend $100–19910,000–14,999 impressions
At Cabarrus County Stop, Republican Candidate Michael Whatley Highlights Democrat Cooper’s Dangerous Soft-On-Crime Record
"There are 25 seats at dinner tables across North Carolina that will forever be empty because of Roy Cooper. His reckless release of more than 4,200 hardened criminals from prison placed North Carolinians in jeopardy, including 25 who were killed as a result. Roy Cooper failed at his most basic job of keeping North Carolinians safe, and the blood of these victims is on his hands,” said Michael Whatley.
Read more here:
Loaded Language: The headline uses emotionally charged wording ('Dangerous') to cast the opponent's record in a negative light rather than state facts.
Name Calling: The label 'Soft-On-Crime' is a derogatory characterization used to discredit the opponent rather than address specific policies.
Appeal to Fear: Evokes the threat of dangerous criminals and deaths to make the audience fearful and blame the official. Flagged: “placed North Carolinians in jeopardy, including 25 who were killed as a result”.
An ad is on this page because its own "Paid for by" line is a campaign in this race; or it comes from a national Senate group and ran mostly in NC; or it ran mostly in NC and names a candidate — unless its sponsor is a campaign for some other office. Ads from outside groups appear alongside the campaigns' own.
Campaigns run one text as many separate ads. Identical text from the same sponsor is one card here, marked with its number of variants.
A technique is a specific rhetorical move in the wording, found by our model and explained in one line. It is not a claim that the ad is false.
Claims are checked when a reader asks: press "Check this ad's claims" on a card. Running a check and seeing its verdicts are part of Semblen Pro, because each check costs money to run; anyone can see which claims an ad makes. The ten ads with the most money behind them in each race are checked ahead of time.
Claim verdicts say what the cited sources say. A verdict that an ad is wrong or misleading is shown only when it cites an established fact-checker or an institutional record — Congress, a federal agency, a court — and its confidence is not low; a weaker one is not shown at all. Each verdict shows what it rests on and how confident it is. If we got one wrong, press Disagree: a verdict that readers dispute and no one defends comes down.
Video ads come from the campaigns' own YouTube channels; the transcript is analyzed. Meta ads are analyzed on their text; their video and images are not, yet.