Republican Strategist Issues Warning About Crucial Midterm Senate Race: 'We're Going to Need a New Candidate'

A Republican strategist is warning that the party risks losing a Senate seat in the 2026 midterms if they don't replace the incumbent, who is currently polling below his likely Democratic opponent.

Arthur Schwartz, described by Punchbowl News as a "longtime behind-the-scenes operator who has extremely close relationships with corporations looking for advice in Trump's D.C., noted that North Carolina Senator Thom Tillis currently polls behind Roy Cooper, getting 43% of the potential vote compared to the Democrat's 47%.

"Thom Tillis is running 20 points behind DJT in North Carolina. We're going to need a new senate candidate in NC unless we want to hand the gavel back to Schumer," Schwartz added in a publication on X to back his point.

Former Governor Roy Cooper has not announced he is running for the seat, but he is reportedly considering it. The National Review detailed this week that "Cooper is in communication with the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee and is 'very aware they are interested' in recruiting him for the upcoming cycle."

Cooper has never lost an election and is seen as a solid candidate in the purple state, especially considering that Democrats have few pickup opportunities in the next midterms. Republicans currently hold a 53-to-47 advantage in the Senate, and Democrats are considered to have little opportunity to gain seats beyond those held by Senator Susan Collins of Maine and Tillis'.