# Republicans shift Senate strategy as midterms loom

> The GOP super PAC abandons North Carolina and pivots to Kansas as Trump tours 17 states to shore up his party's majority.
- Title: Republicans shift Senate strategy as midterms loom · NBC News
- Summary: The GOP super PAC abandons North Carolina and pivots to Kansas as Trump tours 17 states to shore up his party's majority. Senate Leadership Fund pulled ad…
- Keywords: senate leadership fund, north carolina senate race, kansas senate race, roy cooper, michael whatley, jon ossoff, mike collins, roger marshall, adam hamilton, donald trump, jd vance, midterm elections 2026
- Source: NBC News — https://nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/shifting-senate-map-politics-desk-rcna601205
- Author: The Politics Desk
- Published: 2026-10-02T21:57:37.464+00:00
- Read time: 3 min
- Topics: senate leadership fund, north carolina senate race, kansas senate race, roy cooper, michael whatley, jon ossoff, mike collins, roger marshall, adam hamilton, donald trump, jd vance, midterm elections 2026
## GOP super PAC abandons North Carolina
Senate Leadership Fund, aligned with Senate GOP leadership, canceled future ad spending in the North Carolina Senate race and launched a new ad effort in Kansas instead.
## Democrats lead in North Carolina
Former Democratic Governor Roy Cooper leads in recent polling and is outspending former Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Whatley in the race for retiring GOP Senator Thom Tillis' seat.
## SLF spent heavily before retreat
Senate Leadership Fund spent more than seventeen million dollars in September on North Carolina ads, according to the ad-tracking firm AdImpact, before pulling back from the race.
## Trump and Vance campaigned for Whatley
President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance each traveled to North Carolina last month to boost Whatley, whom Trump personally encouraged to run for the Senate seat.
## Trump expresses concern about Whatley
Trump told reporters of Whatley today: "I am worried about him. I hope he wins. He's a great man."

> I am worried about him. I hope he wins. He's a great man.
## Georgia race also slipping away
The GOP's confidence is dwindling in Georgia, where Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff has established a clear polling and fundraising advantage over Republican Representative Mike Collins.
## Kansas becomes unexpectedly competitive
In solidly Republican Kansas, the race between GOP Senator Roger Marshall and Democratic pastor Adam Hamilton has become more competitive, even though the state has not sent a Democrat to the Senate since nineteen thirty-two.
## SLF reserves millions in Kansas ads
Senate Leadership Fund has reserved more than eight million dollars in airtime in Kansas, according to AdImpact, reflecting a shift in the battle for Senate control to red states.
## Trump launches ambitious midterm tour
President Donald Trump is set to travel to seventeen states for thirty-six events in thirty days, according to a White House official, as he seeks to motivate voters before the midterms.
## Trump signals Republican anxiety
At an Oklahoma rally, Trump told a crowd: "We're worried about Michigan. We're worried about Texas. We're worried about a few states, but it's all about thirty-five different contests."

> We're worried about Michigan. We're worried about Texas. We're worried about a few states, but it's all about 35 different contests.
## Economy and jobs weigh on Republicans
The final jobs report before the midterms showed a slowing job market and wages lagging behind inflation, creating obstacles for Republicans as the economy is the number one issue for voters.
## Trump promises economic gains if GOP wins
During his Oklahoma rally, Trump promised that if Republicans win, voters will each have five thousand dollars in their pocket and economic success like never before.

> if the Republicans win, you will each have $5,000 in your pocket and the economic success for our country like you've never seen before
## Latino and independent voters hold key
Trump's standing with Latino and independent voters will be crucial to the midterm outcome. NBC News polling shows independents' approval of Trump's job performance is at just twenty-six percent.
## New Latino voter poll coming Sunday
On Meet the Press this Sunday, Steve Kornacki will unveil results of a new NBC News and Telemundo poll of Latino voters as the midterm fight enters its final stretch.
## Key takeaway

Senate Leadership Fund pulled ad spending from North Carolina and moved resources to Kansas, signalling Republican confidence is collapsing in swing states as Trump launches a 17-state midterm tour.