Republican National Committee (RNC) chair Michael Whatley officially announced on Thursday that he is running in North Carolina’s open 2026 Senate race.
Whatley announced his candidacy in a statement posted to X, writing that he is “humbled and excited” to begin his Senate campaign and “would be honored to earn your vote, your support, and your prayers.” Whatley has already received the backing of President Donald Trump, who wrote in a July 24 post to Truth Social that the RNC chairman would have his “complete and total endorsement” if he jumped into the North Carolina Senate race.
Additionally, Senate Majority Leader John Thune and National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) Chairman Tim Scott both released statements posted to X on Thursday endorsing Whatley in the upcoming race.
“Michael Whatley has done an exceptional job leading the Republican National Committee through historic campaign successes, and I’m excited to endorse him in his bid to become North Carolina’s next U.S. Senator,” Thune wrote in his statement. “Michael is a strong conservative voice committed to fighting for North Carolina and will be a crucial part of our growing Senate Republican majority.”
Scott wrote in his statement that Whatley is a “strong America First conservative.”
“Like President Donald J. Trump, Michael Whatley knows how to win North Carolina. He’s a strong America First conservative and a champion for the Tar Heel State, so I’m confident we will keep the seat in Republican hands,” Scott added. “With Michael in the race and running to win, I know we will protect President Trump’s Senate Majority in 2026.”
Similarly, National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) Chairman Richard Hudson issued a statement Thursday praising Whatley as being “exactly the kind of conservative leader North Carolina needs.”
“Michael Whatley is exactly the kind of conservative leader North Carolina needs, tough, tested, and committed to putting America First,” Hudson wrote in the statement sent to the Daily Caller News Foundation. “A native of Western North Carolina and a fellow UNC Charlotte alum, Chairman Whatley has built the most successful state Republican Party in the country and is now leading the RNC with that same energy and vision. He’s a battle-tested conservative who will fight for working families, help deliver President Trump’s agenda, and stand up to the Swamp. North Carolina would be lucky to have him in the Senate.”
The race to succeed retiring Republican North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis is expected to be an extremely competitive one. Former two-term Democratic North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper is also seeking the state’s open Senate seat. Cooper — who was rumored to be among his party’s top 2026 recruits — seems poised to clear the Democratic field after former Democratic North Carolina Rep. Wiley Nickel announced Tuesday that he was suspending his Senate campaign.
While Lara Trump was rumored to be a potential contender in the North Carolina Senate race, she announced in a statement posted to X on July 24 that she was not running.
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