The aftermath of Hurricane Helene, which hit North Carolina's western half in September 2024, continues to influence the state's US Senate race. The storm, described as the worst natural disaster in North Carolina's history, resulted in at least 107 fatalities and approximately $60bn in damage.
While some areas appear to have returned to normal, with reopened roads and lively downtowns, evidence of the disaster's long-term impact remains visible, including vacant storefronts and storm debris in waterways. The recovery effort has become a key issue in the contest to succeed retiring Republican Senator Thom Tillis.
Democratic nominee Roy Cooper was the state's governor when Helene made landfall as a tropical storm. His opponent, former Republican National Committee chair Michael Whatley, has been accused by Cooper of letting North Carolinians down, citing President Trump's statement that Whatley would be "in charge of making sure everything goes well" with the recovery. Whatley's campaign has stated he was never given the title of Hurricane Helene "recovery czar."
Christopher Cooper, a political science professor at Western Carolina University, noted that people in western North Carolina largely agree that "Helene relief has been more of a failure than a victory." The central question for voters is who they hold responsible for the perceived shortcomings in the recovery.