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A Project of The Annenberg Public Policy Center

Person: Michael Whatley

Ad Attacking N.C. Republican Senate Candidate Uses His Own (Dated) Words Against Him

Ad Attacking N.C. Republican Senate Candidate Uses His Own (Dated) Words Against Him
September 4, 2026

In his campaign’s latest TV ad, Democratic Senate candidate Roy Cooper of North Carolina highlights the issue of affordability using direct quotes from his Republican opponent. They are, in fact, direct quotes from Michael Whatley — but they are a bit dated, and some of the comments were more defensible or true at the time when Whatley made them.

Ad Attacking Cooper Makes False Connection to Murder

Ad Attacking Cooper Makes False Connection to Murder
August 26, 2026

An ad from a super PAC supporting Republican Senate candidate Michael Whatley features a heart-wrenching testimonial from the father of a woman who was murdered in 2025. The ad falsely implies the accused murderer was one of the prisoners released during the COVID-19 pandemic when Whatley’s Democratic opponent, Roy Cooper, was governor of North Carolina. Cooper had nothing to do with the accused murderer’s release.