CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The headlines over the last few days have been filled with political scandals and controversies. But will this have an impact on voters?

After last Tuesday’s presidential debate, President Donald Trump and some of his staff tested positive for the coronavirus.

North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis also tested positive for COVID-19 last Friday.

That wasn’t the only controversy to come out of the Tar Heel State.

Democratic senate candidate Cal Cunningham admitted to sending suggestive text messages to a married woman Friday night. This news came shortly after Tillis announced his diagnosis.

Dr. Eric Heberlig, a political science professor at UNC Charlotte, says when it comes to the presidential election, most people have already made up their minds. But the senate race could be tighter than before because of the recent scandals.

“Cunningham’s sexting scandal is a Level B scandal. It’s not one that’s dominating news coverage, it’s not one that wide swaths of people are automatically going to say ‘No, he’s off my list.’ It’s certainly a concern,” Heberlig says. “I think some voters are going to move by it, but probably that by itself is insufficient given his polling lead.”

Early voting in North Carolina begins Oct. 15, and Heberlig is predicting record numbers when it comes to voter turnout this year.