Republicans Spend $10M to Keep Berger in NC Senate

Unprecedented spending in state legislative primary race

Published on Mar. 2, 2026

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Republicans appear likely to spend more than $10 million to bolster state Senate leader Phil Berger's intense reelection fight against Rockingham County Sheriff Sam Page, according to newly released fundraising reports. The bulk of the spending has come from an independent expenditure group called NC True Conservatives, which has spent $5.9 million as of mid-February on Berger's race, nearly all of it on advertising.

Why it matters

This level of spending on a state legislative primary is unprecedented in North Carolina, according to political experts. It raises questions about the influence of outside money and special interests in state politics, as well as the potential impact on voter engagement and turnout.

The details

Berger's campaign and independent expenditure groups supporting him spent more than $8.6 million between the start of the primary election cycle in 2025 and February 14, 2026. Combined, they still had $2 million more on hand as of mid-February. Another outside group, Citizens for NC Jobs Action PAC, has spent more than $333,000 on television advertising supporting Berger. Meanwhile, Berger's opponent, Sam Page, has raised only $81,000 for his campaign.

  • The latest fundraising reports cover the period from January 1 to February 14, 2026.
  • The primary election is scheduled for March 3, 2026.

The players

Phil Berger

The incumbent state Senate leader who is facing a tough reelection fight.

Sam Page

The Rockingham County Sheriff who is challenging Berger for the state Senate seat.

NC True Conservatives

An independent expenditure group that has spent $5.9 million on advertising supporting Berger's campaign.

Citizens for NC Jobs Action PAC

An outside group affiliated with the NC Chamber of Commerce that has spent more than $333,000 on television advertising supporting Berger.

Piedmont Accountability Coalition

A pro-Page group that has not released any financial disclosures.

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What they’re saying

“When you've got outside-backed money spending $10 million on a candidate, it makes you wonder what the obligations are to them. I'm obligated to the voters. We're going to win this race not on money raised; we're going to win it on relationships and accessibility that I've had with the citizens.”

— Sam Page, Candidate (theassemblync.com)

“As those of us who deal with data and statistics would probably attest to, this is an extreme outlier.”

— Michael Bitzer, Political Scientist, Catawba College (theassemblync.com)

“Phil Berger's network is the lifeblood of North Carolina politics, and powerful groups want to have it continue to be that way. If Phil Berger does lose, it's going to introduce uncertainty into North Carolina politics. That is the enemy of powerful people in politics.”

— Chris Cooper, Political Scientist, Western Carolina University (theassemblync.com)

What’s next

The primary election is scheduled for March 3, 2026, and it remains to be seen how Berger's unprecedented spending will affect voters' choices. No vote tallies are released until all polls close on Election Day, but the State Board of Elections reports how many ballots have been cast and where.

The takeaway

This race highlights the growing influence of outside money and special interests in North Carolina politics, and the potential impact it can have on the democratic process. Regardless of the outcome, the election will come at a steep financial and political cost, raising concerns about the obligations of candidates to their donors versus their constituents.