Whatley seeks NC Senate seat on Trump-aligned platform

Michael D. Whatley, a Republican and former chair of the Republican National Committee, is running for U.S. Senate in North Carolina. He faces Democrat Roy Cooper, Green Party candidate Michael Dublin and Libertarian Shannon W. Bray in the Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026, general election.

Whatley says on his campaign website that he is "committed to advancing President Trump's America First agenda as the next U.S. Senator from North Carolina."

Candidate information

Party: Republican
Office sought: U.S. Senate, North Carolina
Born: Oct. 1, 1968, in Michigan
Hometown: Moved to Watauga County, North Carolina, during high school; graduated from Watauga High School in 1987
Education: Bachelor's degree in history, University of North Carolina (1991); master's degree in religion, Wake Forest University (1993); juris doctor, Notre Dame Law (1997)

Experience and public service

Whatley's career spans Republican politics, energy policy and law, according to his Wikipedia biography and BallotReady profile data.

He served as chair of the Republican National Committee from 2024 to 2025 and as the committee's general counsel from 2023 to 2024. Before that, he chaired the North Carolina Republican Party from 2019 to 2024.

In the private sector, Whatley was a partner at HBW Resources from 2007 to 2022 and executive vice president at Consumer Energy Alliance from 2008 to 2019. He was president of Patriot Group LLC from 2005 to 2007.

Earlier in his career, Whatley served as principal deputy assistant secretary at the U.S. Department of Energy from 2001 to 2003 and as chief of staff to U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Dole in 2004. He was legal counsel in the office of U.S. Sen. Paul Coverdell of Georgia in 2000 and served on the George W. Bush 2000 presidential campaign's Florida recount team.

On the issues

The following positions are drawn from Whatley's campaign website and his responses on BallotReady. They reflect the candidate's own statements.

Taxes: Whatley says he supports tax cuts for the middle class and no taxes on tips, overtime and Social Security.

Immigration: Whatley says he fully supports President Trump's border security efforts and the deportation of people he describes as "criminal illegal aliens" who entered the country under previous leadership. He has named both Joe Biden and Roy Cooper in his criticism.

Law enforcement: Whatley says he would work with President Trump to restore law and order, roll back what he calls lenient Democratic policies, support law enforcement and prioritize the safety of North Carolinians.

Social issues: Whatley says he would defend Second Amendment rights, protect life, support law enforcement and oppose what he describes as "radical woke ideology" in schools.

Economy and energy: Whatley says he wants to empower workers, create well-paying jobs and achieve energy independence.