Former President Donald Trump campaigned for Michael Whatley in Rocky Mount, N.C., signaling an early and close alignment as Whatley seeks the GOP nomination for a key open Senate seat. Whatley, a former RNC chair and one-time lobbyist, faces a strong likely Democratic opponent in former Gov. Roy Cooper and skepticism from some GOP activists. The race is expected to draw record spending, and Democrats plan to target Whatley’s Washington and energy-industry ties while focusing on affordability issues.
Trump Campaigns for Michael Whatley as North Carolina Senate Race Kicks Off
President Donald Trump urged former Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Whatley to enter the race for North Carolina's open Senate seat. (Michael M. Santiago / Getty Images file)
ROCKY MOUNT, N.C. — On the Friday night before Christmas, former President Donald Trump spent roughly 90 minutes campaigning in eastern North Carolina to boost Michael Whatley, the former RNC chair he personally recruited to run for the open U.S. Senate seat.
Trump Lends Early Support
Trump used the rally to tout his record and to elevate Whatley as a loyal conservative ally. "Donald Trump right now is the most transformational president in our lifetime," Whatley said after joining Trump onstage. "And President Trump, my pledge to you is this: When I win this seat ... I'm going to be a conservative champion for North Carolina and I'm going to be an ally to our great president."
Why North Carolina Matters
With Republican Sen. Thom Tillis retiring, the seat is crucial to both parties' Senate math. North Carolina is widely considered a top 2026 battleground alongside Maine, Michigan and Georgia; analysts say Democrats would likely need to win all four toss-up races and at least two additional states Trump carried by large margins in 2024 to capture a Senate majority. That makes this contest strategically important for both sides.
The Opponent: Roy Cooper
Democrats are likely to nominate former Gov. Roy Cooper, a two-term governor who won statewide contests in 2016 and 2020 — even when Trump carried the state. Cook Political Report editors describe Cooper as one of the strongest Senate candidates Democrats have fielded in years, in part because he has appeal to some Trump voters.
Intra-GOP Doubts and the MAGA Base
Despite Trump’s endorsement, Whatley faces skepticism within some Republican circles. Grassroots activists and figures on the right have questioned his ability to energize MAGA voters. Steve Bannon said Whatley is "not MAGA" and suggested the campaign lacks enthusiasm among the movement’s core. Other Republican rivals read Trump’s early intervention as a sign the GOP is concerned about Whatley’s standing.
Fundraising And The Money Race
Both parties expect unprecedented spending in the race. Whatley predicted total spending could reach $800 million by Election Day. As of Sept. 30, campaign filings showed Cooper had raised about $10.9 million while Whatley had collected roughly $1.4 million, underscoring an early fundraising gap.
Whatley’s Background And Vulnerabilities
Whatley spent more than a decade as a lobbyist and worked as executive vice president of the Consumer Energy Alliance, an advocacy group that counts major oil and gas firms among its members. He promoted offshore drilling and supported projects such as the Keystone XL pipeline before becoming North Carolina GOP chair in 2019. Democrats plan to emphasize those Washington ties and argue he’s out of step with everyday affordability concerns.
Democratic Strategy
Cooper’s campaign advisers say they will avoid centering their attack on Trump, whom they view as a resilient figure in North Carolina. Instead, they plan to focus on cost-of-living issues and portray Whatley as a Washington insider whose record favors energy industry interests over ordinary voters.
Public Perception And The Road Ahead
Whatley leans into his North Carolina roots and touts extensive county travel as state GOP chair. High-profile allies such as Lara Trump — his former RNC co-chair who hosts a Fox program — have pledged to boost his visibility. Still, the race is expected to be highly competitive, expensive and closely watched as a bellwether for national control of the Senate.
"It’s going to be a fight," said Kyle Kirby, Mecklenburg County Republican Party chair, summing up local expectations for the contest.
As the early contests and fundraising figures take shape, the North Carolina Senate race will test whether a Trump-backed candidate can carry the state for the GOP or whether Democrats can flip a pivotal seat in their bid to reclaim Senate control.
