Whatley, Cooper clash on presence, priorities in NC Senate race
Same-day appearances highlight divide over disaster response, rural outreach and leadership style in North Carolina contest.
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By Annie Dance | Lake Lure News | Cops & Congress | News & Commentary
MILL SPRING, N.C. — A single day on the campaign trail — April 7 — offered a clear snapshot of the emerging divide between Republican Michael Whatley and Democrat Roy Cooper in North Carolina’s U.S. Senate race.
Let’s put aside the money and even the political parties, for a moment, and focus on the facts.
That same day, Markwayne Mullin, newly appointed as Homeland Security secretary, was in western North Carolina leading a disaster recovery roundtable at the Chimney Rock Volunteer Fire Department — putting a federal spotlight on a region still rebuilding after Hurricane Helene.
Whatley, also in western North Carolina on April 7, addressed more than 200 people at a dinner hosted by Americans for Prosperity. Speaking in a region hit hard by flooding, he centered his message on presence and response, drawing a direct contrast with his opponent. I was there and witnessed it firsthand.
Whatley told attendees that Cooper was in New York City when Hurricane Helene struck North Carolina, a storm that caused widespread damage across river communities, including those along the Broad River. He also pointed to Cooper’s past support for post-flood property buyouts — a policy tool funded in part through federal disaster programs and often debated by homeowners weighing whether to rebuild or relocate.
As I’ve previously reported, Cooper said “Buyouts are better” after flooding. His comments were made at a climate conference as Hurricane Helene hit the state.
FEMA has released millions of dollars in recovery funds, including for hazard mitigation grant program (HMGP) buyouts and elevations. Many are still waiting for various reasons, as I’ve previously reported.
While Whatley and federal officials were in western North Carolina, Cooper appeared the same day in Fayetteville, speaking to a smaller crowd as part of his campaign schedule. His campaign has emphasized his record as governor, including economic development initiatives and disaster recovery programs implemented during his administration.
The split-screen moment — a federal disaster roundtable in Chimney Rock, a recovery summit in Mill Spring, and a campaign stop in Fayetteville — underscores two different campaign approaches.
Whatley has made repeated visits to western North Carolina, focusing on in-person engagement in rural and storm-impacted communities. His campaign has leaned into criticism of past recovery decisions and the pace of aid reaching property owners.
Cooper, by contrast, has so far emphasized broader statewide messaging, with fewer appearances reported in the mountain counties most affected by Helene. On April 7, he continued a “Make Stuff Cost Less” tour. He’ll be in Durham on Thursday, according to his website. Again, that’s not in western NC.
For residents still navigating recovery, the distinction carries weight.
Buyout programs, supported by agencies such as the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), are designed to reduce future flood risk by removing homes from vulnerable areas. But for many in western North Carolina, they also raise difficult questions about permanence, property rights, and community identity.
As the Senate race unfolds, both candidates are expected to increase their presence across the state. But April 7 highlighted an early reality: in a race shaped by disaster recovery and rural concerns, where candidates choose to show up — and when — is becoming part of the campaign itself.
ICYMI
