WASHINGTON — In February, Democrats began getting anxious about the crucial Senate race in North Carolina. An unknown Republican-affiliated group was suddenly pouring millions of dollars behind the candidacy of Erica Smith, a progressive state senator who they believed had no chance of winning the seat in November. With significant party help, Mr. Cunningham prevailed and is now in a strong position against Mr. Tillis, making him one of 14 candidates endorsed early by the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee who either froze out their opposition entirely or won their primaries. Democrats took some heat for playing early favorites — including shunning Black candidates like Ms. Smith, Charles Booker in Kentucky and Royce West in Texas — but the strategy has paid off. They need a net gain of only three seats to take the majority should former Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr., the presumptive nominee, win the White House — four if he does not.

Source: New York Times August 09, 2020 06:56 UTC