NORTH CAROLINA — Roy Cooper is the Democratic nominee for the US Senate seat in North Carolina, while Michael Whatley is the Republican nominee for the same seat. Michael Whatley accused Roy Cooper of mishandling the Hurricane Helene recovery effort. Roy Cooper argued that Michael Whatley is responsible for letting North Carolinians down regarding Hurricane Helene recovery.

Hurricane Helene struck western North Carolina in September 2024, killing at least 107 people in the state. The storm caused nearly $60bn in damage in North Carolina, according to a Federal Emergency Management Agency disaster cost assessment. Roy Cooper served as governor of North Carolina when Hurricane Helene struck.

In Marshall, North Carolina, the French Broad River rose 27ft above flood level during the hurricane. The town, which has a population of 961 residents, saw its town hall and post office flooded. Hurricane Helene also inundated the historic courthouse in Marshall, rendering it unusable.

Madison County plans to vacate the historic courthouse in Marshall and build a new complex on high ground. Funding for the new Madison County complex will come from the North Carolina General Assembly and the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Matthew Wechtel is a Republican commissioner in Madison County, North Carolina.

"I don’t think Governor Cooper did much at all for Madison county, or for western North Carolina, when it came to storm recovery," Wechtel said. "I think most of the stuff that came down came from the general assembly … and Governor Cooper just got out of the way and let it happen." Roy Cooper visited Marshall approximately two weeks after Hurricane Helene struck.

Recent polls show Roy Cooper leading Michael Whatley in the North Carolina US Senate race. No Democrat has carried North Carolina in a presidential election since 2008. Donald Trump won North Carolina in the 2024 presidential election. Josh Stein is the Democratic governor of North Carolina. Republican Senator Thom Tillis is retiring from the US Senate.

Why It Matters

The dispute over Hurricane Helene recovery shows the political stakes in western North Carolina, where the storm caused catastrophic damage and loss of life. With recent polls showing Cooper leading Whatley, the election presents an opportunity for Democrats to break a long-standing pattern in the state, as no Democrat has won a US Senate election in North Carolina since 2008.

The debate centers on whether state or federal leadership was more effective in directing aid and rebuilding efforts. As candidates exchange accusations over who failed to secure necessary resources, voters in affected areas like Marshall and Canton weigh these records against their ongoing recovery needs.

Timeline

Tropical Storm Fred flooded Canton, North Carolina in 2021. The Environmental Protection Agency proposed to approve a revision to the North Carolina State Implementation Plan regarding motor vehicle emissions budgets. Roy Cooper served as governor of North Carolina when Hurricane Helene struck in September 2024.

During Hurricane Helene in September 2024, the French Broad River rose 27ft above flood level in Marshall. The storm killed at least 107 people in North Carolina and caused nearly $60bn in damage in the state.

What's New

Democratic Senate nominee Roy Cooper accused Republican Senate nominee Michael Whatley of not pushing Washington to send more Hurricane Helene aid to western North Carolina, arguing that the region 'desperately needs more federal funding' during a campaign event in Asheville on June 26, 2026. Michael Whatley served as chair of the North Carolina Republican Party from 2019 to 2024. Michael Whatley is Chair of the Republican National Committee since 2024. Roy Cooper served as the 50th attorney general of North Carolina from 2001 to 2017.

How Sources Differ

Regarding details of Hurricane Helene in North Carolina, BPR News reported that Democratic Senate nominee Roy Cooper accused Republican Senate nominee Michael Whatley of not pushing Washington to send more aid, arguing the region desperately needs more federal funding. The Federal Emergency Management Agency disaster cost assessment stated that Hurricane Helene caused nearly $60bn in damage in North Carolina.