A covid-19 diagnosis, texts suggesting infidelity roil pivotal N.C. Senate race

On Thursday night, Sen. Thom Tillis (R) and Democratic challenger Cal Cunningham bumped elbows at their final debate in the contentious North Carolina race that could determine which party controls the Senate.

Not 24 hours later, both candidates’ lives — and possibly the fate of the upper chamber — were upended, as Tillis tested positive for the novel coronavirus and Cunningham acknowledged sending illicit texts to a woman who is not his wife.

Now, both men are in their homes, one self-isolating and the other dodging reporters asking about those texts, including messages that emerged late Tuesday suggesting an intimate encounter. And in Washington, both parties are seeking to capitalize on the 11th-hour drama to boost their candidate’s political fortunes.