PACs cancel millions in TV ads for North Carolina races as Election Day approaches

NORTH CAROLINA (WLOS) — With Election Day just days away, political action committees (PACs) are canceling millions of dollars in television advertising across North Carolina, shifting money away from some congressional races and toward other contests nationwide.

Federal Election Commission records show individual advertising buys ranging from tens of thousands of dollars to more than $100,000, with outside spending across congressional races reaching into the millions.

The shifting funds reflect a broader strategy used by political committees in the final stretch of a campaign: redirecting advertising budgets from some races to contests they consider more competitive, particularly as control of the House of Representatives is at stake.

For local television stations, those last-minute changes can mean a flurry of cancellations and replacement buys as campaigns and political groups adjust their plans.

In North Carolina’s 11th Congressional District, the campaigns for Democrat Jamie Ager and Republican Jennifer Balkcom are seeing outside advertising dollars move as political groups reassess where to spend in the final days of the election.

Chris Cooper, chair of the political science department at Western Carolina University, says the movement of advertising money is not unusual as Election Day nears.

“The money is being pulled out, and this is in some ways normal when candidates and campaigns and PACs and affiliated groups believe that it’s just good money after bad,” Cooper said.

Cooper said the decisions reflect how outside groups evaluate where their spending may have the greatest impact. In competitive congressional races, those decisions can involve substantial sums.

Balkcom entered the race after Republican Chuck Edwards exited, giving her less time to campaign than Ager, who had been running for about a year.

Cooper noted that Balkcom had experienced some early challenges in her media appearances around the region, with weak interviews with reporters where she stumbled on answers to questions. Political polling shows Balkcom behind Ager.

Balkcom’s spokesperson declined to comment on the cancelled advertising.