{"id":2629496,"date":"2026-07-14T09:24:02","date_gmt":"2026-07-14T13:24:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/whatley-hits-cooper-on-taxes-in-big-ad-buy-for-north-carolina-senate-race\/"},"modified":"2026-07-14T09:26:33","modified_gmt":"2026-07-14T13:26:33","slug":"whatley-hits-cooper-on-taxes-in-big-ad-buy-for-north-carolina-senate-race","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/whatley-hits-cooper-on-taxes-in-big-ad-buy-for-north-carolina-senate-race\/","title":{"rendered":"Whatley hits Cooper on taxes in big ad buy for North Carolina Senate race"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">28<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fwhatley-hits-cooper-on-taxes-in-big-ad-buy-for-north-carolina-senate-race%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2629496&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Michael whatley, North Carolina&#8217;s Republican Senate candidate, is focusing his first major ad on criticizing Democratic opponent Roy Cooper over taxes and affordability. The ad highlights Cooper&#8217;s opposition to President Trump&#8217;s recent tax law, which includes benefits like eliminating taxes on overtime, tips, and temporarily reducing taxes for Social Security recipients. Whatley&#8217;s campaign is investing heavily in statewide streaming ads to reach voters outside regular broadcast TV. He emphasizes his platform of cutting taxes and making life more affordable, promising to end taxes on Social Security. <\/p>\n<p>The Cooper campaign counters by stating Cooper supports eliminating taxes on tips, overtime, and Social Security, and criticizes Whatley&#8217;s background, including his past lobbying work for utility companies and his association with the national Republican Party. <\/p>\n<p>This Senate race is highly competitive, with polling showing Cooper leading but Whatley narrowing the gap to about four points. The seat is open due to retiring Senator Thom Tillis, who has expressed a preference for Whatley but has also questioned weather he is doing enough to attract self-reliant and swing voters necessary for victory. Tillis supports Whatley&#8217;s campaign and emphasizes the importance of appealing to center-right voters for a win in North Carolina. The contest is seen as a key opportunity for Democrats to flip the chamber,making it a closely watched electoral battle.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>EXCLUSIVE \u2014<\/strong> North Carolina Republican Senate nominee <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/michael-whatley\/\">Michael Whatley<\/a> is using his first ad purchase of the general election to ding Democratic opponent <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/roy-cooper\/\">Roy Cooper<\/a> on taxes and affordability.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In a <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=8YH7iagEcXc\">30-second spot<\/a> first seen by the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em>, Whatley, the former chairman of the Republican National Committee, goes after Cooper, the state\u2019s former governor, for \u201csiding with the national liberals\u201d and opposing President Donald Trump\u2019s tax law from last year. Among its policies, the sprawling law eliminates taxes on things like overtime and tips, as well as temporarily reduces or eliminates taxes for many Social Security recipients.<\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/house\/4647086\/steve-scalise-raises-9-million-q2-fundraising\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Scalise races to fortify vulnerable Republicans with $9 million fundraising haul<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4647118\/trump-russell-fry-replace-lindsey-graham\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Trump says \u2018I could see\u2019 Rep. Russell Fry replace Lindsey Graham in Senate<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4647060\/cornyn-midterm-convention-snub-paxton-texas\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Cornyn hints at midterm convention snub after loss to Paxton: \u2018May have a conflict\u2019<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Whatley\u2019s campaign is placing seven figures behind the ad that will run statewide on streaming services, a particularly large purchase for something that won\u2019t be seen on broadcast airwaves.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-15\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI\u2019m running for Senate to cut taxes and make life more affordable,\u201d Whatley states, along with the promise to permanently \u201cend the tax on senior Social Security.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cCooper backs higher taxes on tips and overtime, and even higher taxes on Social Security,\u201d the ad\u2019s narrator says.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\"> <span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"696\" height=\"392\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/8YH7iagEcXc?version=3&#038;rel=1&#038;showsearch=0&#038;showinfo=1&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;fs=1&#038;hl=en-US&#038;autohide=2&#038;wmode=transparent\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"border:0;\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\"><\/iframe><\/span> <\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Cooper campaign said he supports eliminating taxes on tips, overtime, and Social Security. Citing Whatley\u2019s position atop the national party committee and time working as an oil lobbyist, a Cooper spokesperson said the GOP nominee \u201chelped lead the charge to double healthcare premiums, pushed legislation to jack up prescription drug prices for our seniors, made millions lobbying for big utility companies including Duke Energy as people\u2019s electric bills went through the roof and spent his career delivering for corporations and special interests at the expense of North Carolina families.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-16\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-2\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The seat, held by retiring Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC), is among the most closely watched races in the country. The contest is currently leaning in Cooper\u2019s favor, according to <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/interactive\/polls\/north-carolina-us-senate-election-polls-2026.html?eafs_enabled=false\">polling<\/a> and <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cookpolitical.com\/ratings\/senate-race-ratings\">nonpartisan election forecasters<\/a>. The race presents a major pickup opportunity for Senate Democrats in their quest to retake control of the chamber that Republicans lead 53-47.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In the most recent survey from the left-leaning, North Carolina-based Public Policy Polling firm, Whatley has narrowed what was once a double-digit deficit to Cooper to just 4 percentage points.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">At left, Michael Whatley speaks June 18, 2024, in Newtown, Pa., and at right, North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper, on Oct. 5, 2024, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo\/Derik Hamilton and Chris Carlson)<\/p>\n<p>&#8221; data-large-file=&#8221;https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/\/2026\/07\/localimages\/AP26188598377399.jpg?w=696&#8243; &#8220;https:><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">At left, Michael Whatley speaks June 18, 2024, in Newtown, Pennsylvania, and at right, North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper, on Oct. 5, 2024, in Charlotte, North Carolina. (AP Photo\/Derik Hamilton and Chris Carlson)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Tillis has not endorsed Whatley and has become an increasingly independent voice in his party as he nears retirement. The second-term senator told the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em> Monday that he \u201cclearly\u201d prefers Whatley to win but questioned the helpfulness of his would-be endorsement and whether Whatley was doing enough to win over unaffiliated and more center-leaning swing voters that he\u2019ll likely need to defeat Cooper.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-17\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-3\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/4507322\/michael-whatley-trump-agenda-roy-cooper\/\">MICHAEL WHATLEY STICKS CLOSE TO TRUMP IN BATTLE AGAINST ROY COOPER<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI\u2019m happy to endorse him. I\u2019ve clearly said that I want him to win the election. My endorsement \u2014 if my help can help him, I want to help,\u201d Tillis said. \u201cIt\u2019s just, he\u2019s coming out of the primary, and I believe he needs to look at that unaffiliated.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Tillis continued, \u201cYou don\u2019t win the state of North Carolina if you get 100% of all Republicans, and obviously, 100% of all registered Republicans don\u2019t vote. So, Michael\u2019s got to get to that center-right, which is a sweet spot for Republicans in statewide elections. He\u2019s got some work to do.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-25\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-4\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>NC GOP nominee Whatley targets Cooper on taxes in new ad<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3108,"featured_media":2629497,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/AP26188598377399.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[36307,66399,53129,36622,38341],"class_list":["post-2629496","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-campaign-strategies","tag-election-campaigns","tag-north-carolina-senate","tag-political-advertising","tag-tax-policy"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/AP26188598377399.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2629496","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3108"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2629496"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2629496\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2629499,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2629496\/revisions\/2629499"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2629497"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2629496"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2629496"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2629496"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}