--- title: "Abortion messaging shifts NC Senate race support, study finds" publication: "MediaBias News" url: "https://mediabias.news/politics/abortion-messaging-shifts-nc-senate-race-support-study-finds" api: "https://mediabias.news/api/v1/stories/abortion-messaging-shifts-nc-senate-race-support-study-finds" markdown: "https://mediabias.news/politics/abortion-messaging-shifts-nc-senate-race-support-study-finds.md" audio: "https://mediabias.news/api/audio/abortion-messaging-shifts-nc-senate-race-support-study-finds" category: "Politics" area: "United States" published: "2026-09-22T13:25:15.590Z" source_reported: "2026-09-22T09:26:45.000Z" updated: "2026-09-22T13:25:15.590Z" trust_score: 50 critic_score: 65 hype_score: 45 assessment_type: "coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis" fact_check_status: "not-performed" coverage_measured: "2026-09-22T13:15:24.626963+00:00" --- # Abortion messaging shifts NC Senate race support, study finds *A new report indicates that highlighting Roy Cooper's abortion record moved voters toward Michael Whatley.* **Scores for the source reporting** (0-100, assessing the original journalism this article was written from, not this write-up): - Trust 50 of 100, higher is better. Central claim attributed to a named body, with a study cited, but no independent corroboration. - Craft 65 of 100, higher is better. Reporting is clear and holds together, with specific details provided. - Hype 45 of 100, lower is better. Headline accurately reflects the content of the reports, with mild emphasis. Scored by MediaBias News; method at https://mediabias.news/methodology. **The short version** - Messages highlighting North Carolina Democratic Senate candidate Roy Cooper's abortion record shifted support toward Republican Michael Whatley, according to a study by Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America. - The largest shift in voter support was generated by messages focused on federal abortion legislation. - Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America has contacted over 770,000 homes in North Carolina as part of a voter-contact strategy. - Roy Cooper previously vetoed a 12-week abortion ban in 2023, a veto that was later overridden by the Republican-controlled General Assembly. A new study commissioned by Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America indicates that campaign messages focusing on North Carolina Democratic Senate candidate Roy Cooper's stance on abortion have influenced voter support towards Republican candidate Michael Whatley. The study found that messages specifically addressing federal abortion legislation produced the most significant movement in voter preference. Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America has engaged with more than 770,000 households across North Carolina. The organisation is implementing a voter-contact strategy aimed at persuadable voters and those with low turnout history, in anticipation of what is expected to be a highly competitive Senate race. This effort seeks to influence the outcome of the election for the seat currently held by retiring Republican Senator Thom Tillis. The group's messaging targets Cooper's record as governor, including his veto of North Carolina's 2023 law that banned most abortions after 12 weeks of pregnancy. Cooper had argued the law would harm women and families, but the Republican-controlled General Assembly subsequently overrode his veto, allowing the ban to take effect. ## Disagreement on study methodology The New York Ledger reported that Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America commissioned Evolving Strategies to conduct a randomized-controlled trial. This trial involved an online panel of 2,607 registered voters in North Carolina, using a technique to match respondents to their voter file and consumer data. The study measured stated candidate and policy support after respondents read different messages, with estimates for persuadable voters based on predictive modeling. The Ledger stated that all messages were at least somewhat effective, shifting the Republican vote margin by a net of 1.7 to nearly 5 points. The 'Fed' message criticizing Cooper's support for federal legislation garnered the highest shift at +4.9 points, followed by the 'Record' message attacking his gubernatorial actions at +3.2 points. The 'Hard Positive' message highlighting Whatley's pro-life positions shifted the margin by +3.9 points, while the 'Soft Positive' message achieved +1.7 points. ## What the coverage left out None of the right-rated digests mention the specific methodology or the names of the researchers involved in the study commissioned by Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America. The New York Ledger, the only centre-rated report, provided these details, including the number of participants and the names Evolving Strategies and Marjorie Dannenfelser. ## Who covered it Shares of the 6 covering outlets with a published leaning rating: - Left: 0% (0) - Centre: 17% (1) - Right: 83% (5) 0 of 6 covering outlets carried no usable leaning rating and were excluded from those percentages. Coverage measured 2026-09-22T13:15:24.626963+00:00. **Coverage watch:** developing. Checked 1 time; 0 checks found a material change. Most recently checked 2026-09-22T13:30:27.841Z. ## How the sides framed it ### Left No separate framing summary. ### Centre - The New York Ledger's report led with the finding that messages highlighting Roy Cooper's abortion record shifted support toward Republican Michael Whatley, citing a new study. It detailed the group's voter-contact strategy, reaching over 770,000 homes and targeting persuadable and low-turnout voters. The report included Cooper's veto of the 12-week abortion ban and the subsequent override by the General Assembly. It also provided details on the study's methodology, commissioned by Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America and conducted by Evolving Strategies, involving 2,607 registered voters and testing four different abortion messages. The Ledger quoted Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of SBA Pro-Life America, discussing the effectiveness of messages related to the 12-week limit veto and bills concerning babies born alive after attempted abortions. ### Right - The right-rated reports, primarily digests, consistently highlighted that a new study commissioned by Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America found messages about Roy Cooper's abortion record shifted support toward Republican Michael Whatley. They noted that messages focused on federal abortion legislation produced the largest movement. These reports also mentioned that Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America had reached over 770,000 homes in North Carolina and was deploying a voter-contact strategy targeting persuadable and low-turnout voters. The digests also included the fact that Roy Cooper vetoed North Carolina's 2023 law banning most abortions after 12 weeks, and that the Republican-controlled General Assembly later overrode his veto. **Provisional coverage gap:** left. The watch is not closed, so this is not yet a settled blindspot finding. ## Factuality profile of the covering outlets These are published factuality ratings of the outlets, not a verdict on whether this story or its claims are true. - low: 2 - mixed: 4 ## Verification scope This page compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It is not a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true. ## Original reporting this was written from - [The New York Ledger](https://thenyledger.com/politics/pro-life-group-ramps-up-nc-ground-game-as-report-finds-fed-abortion-message-gives-gop-candidate-biggest-boost) — Pro-life group ramps up NC ground game as report finds fed abortion message gives GOP candidate biggest boost - [khbrknews](https://khbrknews.com/pro-life-group-ramps-up-nc-ground-game-as-report-finds-fed-abortion-message-gives-gop-candidate-biggest-boost) — Pro-life group ramps up NC ground game as report finds fed abortion message gives GOP candidate biggest boost - [nytimespost.com](https://nytimespost.com/pro-life-group-ramps-up-nc-ground-game-as-report-finds-fed-abortion-message-gives-gop-candidate-biggest-boost) — Pro-life group ramps up NC ground game as report finds fed abortion message gives GOP candidate biggest boost - NEW YORK TIMES POST - [democraticaccent.com](https://democraticaccent.com/pro-life-group-ramps-up-nc-ground-game-as-report-finds-fed-abortion-message-gives-gop-candidate-biggest-boost) — Pro-life group ramps up NC ground game as report finds fed abortion message gives GOP candidate biggest boost – Democratic Accent - [wfmd.com](https://wfmd.com/2026/09/22/pro-life-group-ramps-up-nc-ground-game-as-report-finds-fed-abortion-message-gives-gop-candidate-biggest-boost) — Pro-life group ramps up NC ground game as report finds fed abortion message gives GOP candidate biggest boost - [Fox News](https://foxnews.com/politics/pro-life-group-ramps-nc-ground-game-report-finds-fed-abortion-message-gives-gop-candidate-biggest-boost) — Pro-life group ramps up NC ground game as report finds fed abortion message gives GOP candidate biggest boost ## Questions **What did the study find about messages on abortion?** A study commissioned by Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America found that messages highlighting Roy Cooper's abortion record shifted voter support towards Republican Michael Whatley. Messages focusing on federal abortion legislation were the most effective in moving voters. **What is Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America doing in North Carolina?** The group has reached over 770,000 homes in North Carolina with a voter-contact strategy. They are targeting persuadable and low-turnout voters with messages about abortion and Roy Cooper's record on the issue. **What is Roy Cooper's record on abortion legislation?** Roy Cooper vetoed North Carolina's 2023 law that banned most abortions after 12 weeks of pregnancy, stating it would harm women and families. The Republican-controlled General Assembly later overrode his veto. --- MediaBias News — https://mediabias.news. Reproduced from https://mediabias.news/politics/abortion-messaging-shifts-nc-senate-race-support-study-finds. Please cite as: MediaBias News, "Abortion messaging shifts NC Senate race support, study finds", https://mediabias.news/politics/abortion-messaging-shifts-nc-senate-race-support-study-finds