Scandal Upends Final Weeks of Pivotal North Carolina Senate Race

A personal scandal has reshaped the pivotal Senate contest in North Carolina, as Republicans ramp up their criticism of Democratic candidate Cal Cunningham and Democrats try to manage the fallout in a race that had been leaning his way.

Mr. Cunningham, who is married, apologized for the flirtatious and sexually suggestive text messages he exchanged with a public-relations strategist soon after they emerged last week.

The strategist, Arlene Guzman Todd, said this week in a statement to the Associated Press that her relationship with Mr. Cunningham “spanned several months and consisted primarily of a series of text exchanges and an in-person encounter.” Ms. Guzman Todd couldn’t be reached for comment.