North Carolina Senate race shaped by tax cuts and rising inflation ahead of midterms

U.S. President Donald Trump's signature tax overhaul, dubbed the "one big beautiful bill," is facing voter backlash as inflation continues to climb. In North Carolina, the battleground state for the 2024 Senate race, the issue is front‑and‑center.

Republican nominee Michael Whatley, a former national party chairman, is championing the tax cuts as a "working families" benefit, while Democratic candidate and former governor Roy Cooper warns of an "affordability crisis," highlighting rising health‑care, housing, utility, and food costs – pressures amplified by the ongoing war with Iran.

Voters such as 30‑year‑old bartender Evan Duke describe a mixed picture: the prospect of tax‑free tips is appealing, yet higher rent, fuel and insurance costs strain household budgets. With incumbent Republican Thom Tillis retiring, both parties see the seat as winnable. The race will influence control of Congress in the final two years of Trump's term.