Hurricane Helene’s stalled recovery is quickly emerging as one of the most politically volatile issues in North Carolina’s marquee Senate race, with both Republican front-runner Michael Whatley and former Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper facing sustained attacks over how relief efforts have unfolded.

The disaster has created a rare opening in which both parties believe they have a case for accountability. Democrats are tying Whatley directly to his role overseeing recovery efforts and President Donald Trump’s promises to rebuild the region. Republicans argue the region’s frustrations reflect years of structural failures under Cooper’s disaster management system, stretching back to earlier storms.