Cooper Strategist Gives Republicans Wrong Election Day as Democrats Lead Early Voting

Democrat Roy Cooper's U.S. Senate campaign is drawing questions about disinformation as North Carolina heads into the final days of an election in which registered Democrats have outpaced Republicans in early voting.

During the Oct. 30 State Lines broadcast on PBS North Carolina, Morgan Jackson of Nexus Strategies, whom moderator Kelly McCullen identified as leading Cooper's campaign, described Republican turnout as falling behind previous midterm election patterns.

"It's not just a blue wave, it's a red undertow," Jackson said.

The discussion opened with Jackson offering an incorrect election date specifically to Republican voters.

"I just want to say a PSA to Republicans: the election is next Thursday," Jackson said. "It's not Tuesday."

Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3, not Thursday.

Comments like that, intended as humor or not, may be examples of "harmful disinformation," according to the NC State Board of Elections (NCSBE) website.

Republican strategist Jordan Shaw of Gamechangers Strategies acknowledged his party's turnout challenges.

"Republicans need to wake up," Shaw said, noting that Republicans traditionally rely more heavily on Election Day voting. He added that he hadn't voted yet.

Panelist Donna King, publisher of The Carolina Journal, attributed much of the participation gap to economic concerns.

"Affordability, prices, cost of living, economics, all of these are really what's pushing people," she said.

The candidates have emphasized different aspects of the economy. Cooper has campaigned on reducing everyday costs under his "Make Stuff Cost Less" message, while Whatley has promoted his "Make More Keep More" agenda and criticized Cooper's record on affordability and public safety.

King also warned that declining confidence in elections could affect participation.

"If people feel like that there's something nefarious going on, they may decide they're not going to participate," King said. "And that's the biggest risk I think that we have."

Polls will be open Tuesday, Nov. 3, from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Voters can verify their assigned polling places at ncsbe.gov.