Helene recovery becomes flashpoint in North Carolina Senate showdown
The 2024 Hurricane Helene aftermath is a central issue as Democrats and Republicans vie for the open U.S. Senate seat in North Carolina.
Two years after Hurricane Helene devastated western North Carolina, the region’s slow rebound is shaping the contest for the state’s open Senate seat. Democratic nominee Roy Cooper, then governor, is being blamed by Republican contender Michael Whatley for a sluggish recovery, even as Whatley promotes his role on a federal disaster-review board and claims to have helped secure $10.75 billion in aid. Critics on both sides point to lingering storefront vacancies, flood debris, and incomplete rebuilding of landmarks such as the Marshall courthouse.
Local officials, including mayor Zeb Smathers of Canton and mayor Aaron Haynie of Marshall, recount uneven assistance and lingering economic strain. The dispute echoes national politics, with Donald Trump having highlighted the storm to criticize the Biden administration and Republicans framing Whatley as the “recovery czar.” Polls currently favor Cooper, but the election’s outcome could tip Senate control for the remainder of Donald Trump’s presidency.
Why it matters
The Senate race could determine the balance of power in Washington, and voters are judging candidates on their handling of a major disaster.
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