As early voting progresses in North Carolina for the upcoming 2026 midterm elections, various political advertisements have made claims that are being scrutinized for accuracy. Many of these ads focus on the North Carolina U.S. Senate race, featuring Democratic former Governor Roy Cooper competing against Republican Michael Whatley, the former chair of the Republican National Committee.
Analysis of Political Claims
One advertisement from the Senate Leadership Fund, a Republican super PAC, asserts that “Roy Cooper pardoned and set free more criminals than any North Carolina governor this century.” However, experts argue that this characterization misrepresents Cooper’s actions. On his final day in office, Cooper reduced the death sentences of 15 inmates to life without parole, which was noted as the largest clemency action of its kind in North Carolina history, rather than simply releasing them from incarceration.
The Cooper campaign responded to this ad with a statement highlighting that a related claim about a South Carolina murder is misleading. They emphasized that the crime in question occurred in Columbia, South Carolina, with no connection to North Carolina’s prison releases. A spokesperson for Cooper stated, “These attacks are false… a Republican super PAC is using this tragedy for political gain.”
In another ad, what appears to be a misleading snapshot of economic conditions is presented, featuring Whatley claiming “Grocery prices are down. Gasoline prices are down. Housing prices are down. Inflation is down.” While the quotes used in the ad are accurate, they reflect data from mid-2025, before rising inflation rates and gas prices that have surged above $4 a gallon following recent geopolitical tensions and new tariffs.
According to the University of Pennsylvania’s factcheck.org, grocery prices actually increased by 3.3% from January to July 2025, contradicting the claim of decreasing prices. Housing prices displayed mixed trends, with some categories dropping and others rising, highlighting the inaccuracy in the ad’s portrayal of the current economic climate.
Further, an ad claims that Cooper “stood up to party leaders and opposed defunding the police.” In response to accusations made against him, Cooper has pointed to his record of imposing tougher laws against violent crime and collaborating with Republicans on various legislative matters. Despite this, he has also vetoed more bills than any North Carolina governor in history, raising questions about the consistency of his bipartisan efforts.
Finally, a Republican campaign advertisement for Jamie Ager, a Democratic candidate for North Carolina’s 11th Congressional District, alleges that he “supported a $4 trillion tax hike.” This claim hinges on his previous endorsement of certain legislative bills, even though Ager has never held public office and thus has never personally voted on such measures.
As the election season continues, fact-checking organizations and analysts will likely keep a close eye on these and other claims as candidates vie for voter support.
