Dozens of life-size cardboard cutouts went up around Wilmington this week showing NC State Sen. Michael Lee (R) with soaked pants, a fistful of cash, and the slogan “I ♥ special interest.” Mural-sized posters parodying Poland Spring ads read “Mike Lee backed polluters” and “now you pay for bottled water.” Lee called the campaign “disgusting” and demanded his Democratic challenger, Jessica Bichler, denounce it. Bichler said her campaign had no involvement and condemned the poster glued to a local Halloween shop without permission. She also pointed to Lee’s own AI-generated ads that mocked her. New Hanover County Democratic Party Chair Jill Hopman condemned the vandalism too, then added: “We would welcome this same outrage aimed at Chemours.” The group behind the ads is a 501(c)(4) and won’t say who runs or funds it. Critics say Lee has failed to deliver enforceable PFAS limits or make polluters like Chemours pay. Lee points to a $45 million fund for emerging contaminants.