Cal Cunningham Coverage

Fact check: Tillis wrongly says small campaign donations 'same thing' as dark money

In a March 10 committee meeting, U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) suggested that small-dollar donations through platforms like ActBlue are the "same thing" as dark money.

Paul Specht, PolitiFact reporter

Editorial: Entertaining Trump's phony claims breeds unwarranted distrust in elections

Wednesday, Dec. 9, 2020 -- The failure to acknowledge the obvious - that Joseph Biden did get the most votes and did capture the most electoral college votes to become the next president - isn't some passive partisan act. Why do some elected representatives tolerate and even encourage Donald Trump's outrageous and false claims in his desire to keep an office he didn't win? Why aren't they speaking up for the integrity of the ballots cast by voters who put them in office? These elected representatives breed unwarranted distrust in our electoral system.

Cunningham concedes US Senate race to Tillis

A week after Election Day, Democrat Cal Cunningham on Tuesday conceded the race for North Carolina's U.S. Senate seat to Republican Sen. Thom Tillis.

Matthew Burns, WRAL.com senior producer/politics editor

Editorial: Cunningham's behavior - From great hope to weak link

Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2020 -- Cal Cunningham was, through much of the election, a cornerstone of Democrats hope to wrest control of U.S. Senate from the Republicans. As the final votes are being counted in North Carolina and Georgia, it appears likely that Cunningham is the weak link in that quest. Through mid-October Cunningham reported raising more than $46.8 million and spending $45.9 million. His behavior let down those wanted a change in the Senate and short-changed his donors. Who'd blame them for demanding their money back.

Tillis campaign says counting all votes still won't add up to Cunningham Senate victory

Republican U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis is on track to survive a tough re-election challenge in North Carolina, potentially protecting the Senate from a Democratic takeover.

Former NC Gov. Pat McCrory reflects on election results, possible 2022 Senate run

Former Gov. Pat McCrory reflects on the statewide election, particularly the U.S. Senate race, and his thoughts on possibly running for Senate in 2022, succeeding Sen. Richard Burr, who will retire at the end of his term.

Republican, Democratic strategists believe day-of voting should decide US Senate race

Republican strategist Carter Wrenn and Democratic strategist Brad Crone talked with WRAL's David Crabtree about the US Senate race between Sen. Thom Tillis and Cal Cunningham and what could make the difference in the race.

Tillis declares victory but Cunningham doesn't concede in NC's US Senate race

Republican U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis is on track to survive a tough re-election challenge in North Carolina, potentially protecting the Senate from a Democratic takeover.

Paul Specht, PolitiFact reporter

Tillis campaign feeling good it can close gap as Cunningham leads US Senate race

The US Senate race has been hot and heavy between Sen. Thom Tillis and Democrat Cal Cunningham. Both candidates were out Tuesday making last-minute pitches to voters.

Cunningham sidesteps talk of affair to focus on voters in closing days of Senate campaign

Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Cal Cunningham has been quietly campaigning across North Carolina following news of an affair he had with a fellow service member's spouse.

Joe Fisher, WRAL multimedia journalist

Cunningham: 'I've said what I am going to say' about affair

Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Cal Cunningham has been quietly campaigning across North Carolina following news of an affair he had with a fellow service member's spouse.

Cunningham's lead in Senate race eroding as GOP coalesces around Tillis

With less than a week remaining in North Carolina's U.S. Senate election, Republican Sen. Thom Tillis still trails Democratic challenger Cal Cunningham but is making up ground rapidly, according to the results of a WRAL News poll released Wednesday.

Professor: Tillis still has time for come-from-behind victory

Meredith College political science professor David McLennan discusses the results of a new WRAL News poll on the U.S. Senate race between Repoublican Sen. Thom Tillis and Democratic challenger Cal Cunningham.

Poll: Tillis gaining ground as Cunningham campaign stalls

With less than a week remaining in North Carolina's U.S. Senate election, Republican Sen. Thom Tillis still trails Democratic challenger Cal Cunningham but is making up ground rapidly, according to the results of a WRAL News poll released Wednesday.

Matthew Burns, WRAL.com senior producer/politics editor

Fact check: Did Tillis flip-flop on Supreme Court appointments?

In 2016, U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis argued that his chamber shouldn't confirm a Supreme Court nominee in an election year. In 2020, he ignored that argument even though the General Election had already started in North Carolina when Ruth Bader Ginsburg died.

Paul Specht, PolitiFact reporter

Full interview: Tillis on pandemic relief, Fauci, Senate campaign

U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis discusses his optimism for passage of a coronavirus pandemic relief package before the election, his confidence in infectious disease expert Dr. Anthony Fauci and the final two weeks of the Senate campaign between him and Democrat Cal Cunningham.

'People's votes are locked in,' professor says about lack of reaction to affair, viral infection in Senate race

North Carolina voters don't seem to mind that Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Cal Cunningham had an affair - he's even gained ground among male voters - according to the results of a WRAL News poll released Monday.

Poll: Supreme Court process more important in NC's Senate race than Cunningham's affair

North Carolina voters don't seem to mind that Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Cal Cunningham had an affair - he's even gained ground among male voters - according to the results of a WRAL News poll released Monday.

Matthew Burns, WRAL.com senior producer/politics editor

Cunningham deflects questions about affair to attack Tillis

Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Cal Cunningham was asked repeatedly Friday whether he's had other extramarital affairs aside from one confirmed this week, but he declined to answer the questions.

DRAUGHON DRAWS: Texts in a curious shade of blue

Saturday, Oct. 10, 2020 -- Capitol Broadcasting Company's editorial cartoonist.

Fact check: Ad says Tillis supported a raise for himself but not the military

An television ad by VoteVets says U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis voted "against a pay raise for a military, while voting for a pay raise for himself." The group, which is left-leaning, cherry-picked two sections of a massive budget bill and ignored Tillis' other efforts to raise military pay.

Paul Specht, PolitiFact reporter

Cal Cunningham news conference

Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Cal Cunningham avoids answering questions about his extramarital affair during an Oct. 9, 2020, news conference.

Asked four times whether there are more affairs not yet known, Cunningham declined to say yes or no

Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Cal Cunningham was asked repeatedly Friday whether he's had other extramarital affairs aside from one confirmed this week, but he declined to answer the questions.

Laura Leslie, WRAL Capitol Bureau chief, & Matthew Burns, WRAL.com senior producer/politics editor

Cunningham offers apology in recorded message

Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Cal Cunningham offered an apology in a recorded speech Wednesday that was part of the NCLCV Green Tie Awards virtual event.

Cunningham could face military prosecution, penalties for affair

Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Cal Cunningham, who's a lieutenant colonel in the Army Reserve, could be prosecuted or face administrative penalties for having an extramarital affair.