Tillis’s Democratic challenger brings in over $720,000 in two weeks

Former North Carolina state Sen. Cal Cunningham’s (D) campaign announced Monday that he brought in more than $720,000 in the first two weeks of his campaign to unseat Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.)

Cunningham raised more than $520,000 in contributions since the campaign’s launch on June 17, in addition to a $200,000 candidate loan. 

The campaign said 72 percent of Cunningham’s donations were from North Carolina voters and that no corporate PAC funds were accepted by the campaign. 

Cunningham, an Iraq War veteran, announced his candidacy for the seat last month, as he looks to emerge from the Democratic primary to take on Tillis, who is widely considered to be one of the more vulnerable Republican senators in 2020. 

A survey from the left-leaning Public Policy Polling last month, showed Cunningham leading Tillis, 41 percent to 40 percent. 

An Emerson College poll released last month also showed Tillis trailing North Carolina state Sen. Erica Smith (D), another of his Democratic challengers, 46 percent to 39 percent. 

Tillis is also facing a third Democratic challenger, Mecklenburg County Commissioner Trevor Fuller.

However, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) is set on maintaining his party’s grip of the chamber, in which they have a 53-47 majority. 

President Trump endorsed Tillis for reelection in a tweet last month.