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Michael Whatley

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U.S. Senate

2026 North Carolina U.S. Senate — General Election · November 3, 2026

Published evidence-backed profile

Current North Carolina general-election candidacy and all displayed profile fields retain exact source evidence. The State Board says its candidate list is not final, so official withdrawals, replacements, disqualifications, and court-ordered changes remain monitored.

Last reviewed September 19, 2026

Overview

Current race
2026 North Carolina U.S. Senate — General Election on November 3, 2026
VerifiedSource: North Carolina State Board of Elections
Official candidacy
U.S. Senate · Republican · Candidate
VerifiedOfficial records: North Carolina State Board of Elections
Identity match
Identity verified in official records
VerifiedSource: North Carolina State Board of Elections

Policy statements from campaign-controlled sources are labeled candidate positions; they are not independently presented as proven outcomes.

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Election date: 11/03/2026

Contest: US SENATE

Candidate: Michael Whatley

Party: REP

Candidacy date: 12/02/2025

Campaign email: [email protected]

Campaign phone: 7048656094

Official and campaign contacts

Only contact details published in official filing records, FEC filings, or a verified candidate-owned source with retained exact evidence appear here.

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Election date: 11/03/2026

Contest: US SENATE

Candidate: Michael Whatley

Party: REP

Candidacy date: 12/02/2025

Campaign email: [email protected]

Campaign phone: 7048656094

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Publication here means only that the contact detail appeared in the cited filing. It is not an endorsement, and older filings may remain visible until an amended official record is captured.

Experience

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About Michael

Candidate-stated

I was raised in Blowing Rock and am the son of an accountant and a librarian.

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I was raised in Blowing Rock and am the son of an accountant and a librarian.

About Michael

Candidate-stated

I graduated from Watauga High School and went on to earn a History degree from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, a Master’s in Religion from Wake Forest University, and a Juris Doctorate (JD) from the University of Notre Dame.

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I graduated from Watauga High School and went on to earn a History degree from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, a Master’s in Religion from Wake Forest University, and a Juris Doctorate (JD) from the University of Notre Dame.

About Michael

Candidate-stated

I began my career in public service as a federal law clerk in Charlotte and later served as Senator Elizabeth Dole’s Chief of Staff. Following President Trump’s historic 2016 victory, I was tapped to lead the Presidential Transition’s Energy, Environment, and Agriculture teams—overseeing development of the Administration’s Farm Plan and Energy Plan, which helped deliver lower energy prices for families and businesses and a booming agricultural and rural economy.

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I began my career in public service as a federal law clerk in Charlotte and later served as Senator Elizabeth Dole’s Chief of Staff. Following President Trump’s historic 2016 victory, I was tapped to lead the Presidential Transition’s Energy, Environment, and Agriculture teams—overseeing development of the Administration’s Farm Plan and Energy Plan, which helped deliver lower energy prices for families and businesses and a booming agricultural and rural economy.

About Michael

Candidate-stated

I previously had the honor of serving as Chairman of the North Carolina Republican Party and, at President Trump’s request, as Chairman of the Republican National Committee during the 2024 cycle.

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I previously had the honor of serving as Chairman of the North Carolina Republican Party and, at President Trump’s request, as Chairman of the Republican National Committee during the 2024 cycle.

Positions and priorities

A position shows what the candidate said—not FactVote's endorsement.

Each summary is supported by the candidate's own words from a campaign source, direct candidate response, or official primary record retained with the profile.

Michael's Plan for North Carolina

Candidate position

I am committed to advancing President Trump’s America First agenda as the next U.S. Senator from North Carolina.

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I am committed to advancing President Trump’s America First agenda as the next U.S. Senator from North Carolina.

Michael's Plan for North Carolina

Candidate position

By practicing fiscal responsibility and unleashing American energy, we can empower American workers, create good-paying jobs, achieve energy independence, and build lasting prosperity for every American.

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By practicing fiscal responsibility and unleashing American energy, we can empower American workers, create good-paying jobs, achieve energy independence, and build lasting prosperity for every American.

Michael's Plan for North Carolina

Candidate position

From defending Second Amendment rights, to protecting life, supporting our law enforcement, and keeping radical woke ideology out of schools, I will fight night and day against the Left’s agenda.

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From defending Second Amendment rights, to protecting life, supporting our law enforcement, and keeping radical woke ideology out of schools, I will fight night and day against the Left’s agenda.

Michael's Plan for North Carolina

Candidate position

At a time when Cooper should have been backing the blue and putting more cops on the streets, he vilified law enforcement and signaled weakness to those who prey on our communities. Criminals thrived under his watch while families paid the price.

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At a time when Cooper should have been backing the blue and putting more cops on the streets, he vilified law enforcement and signaled weakness to those who prey on our communities. Criminals thrived under his watch while families paid the price.

Michael's Plan for North Carolina

Candidate position

I believe the foremost priority of government is to protect its citizens. My opponent, Roy Cooper, objectively failed at that responsibility. As Governor of North Carolina, Cooper vetoed legislation that would have required local sheriffs to cooperate with ICE and turn over criminal illegal aliens for deportation. Under Cooper’s leadership, illegal aliens committed multiple crimes without being deported.

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I believe the foremost priority of government is to protect its citizens. My opponent, Roy Cooper, objectively failed at that responsibility. As Governor of North Carolina, Cooper vetoed legislation that would have required local sheriffs to cooperate with ICE and turn over criminal illegal aliens for deportation. Under Cooper’s leadership, illegal aliens committed multiple crimes without being deported.

Candidate statement

Candidate position

I will fight to defend the 2nd Amendment, protect life, support our law enforcement, and keep radical woke ideology out of schools.

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I will fight to defend the 2nd Amendment, protect life, support our law enforcement, and keep radical woke ideology out of schools.

Make North Carolina Safe Again

Candidate position
FactVote summary · Policy

Support tougher law-and-order policy, law enforcement, and rollback of pretrial-release and bail policies he considers too lenient.

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As your next U.S. Senator, I will stand shoulder to shoulder with President Trump to restore law and order, roll back dangerous and lenient Democrat policies, back the blue without apology, and put law-abiding North Carolinians first. It’s time to make North Carolina safe again.

Fight Illegal Immigration

Candidate position
FactVote summary · Policy

Support stronger border enforcement and deportation of people in the country unlawfully who commit crimes.

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Fight Illegal Immigration

America First Economy

Candidate position
FactVote summary · Policy

Reduce federal spending, expand domestic energy production, and pursue tax and economic policies intended to raise wages, create jobs, and lower household costs.

  • Campaign has also highlighted no-tax-on-tips and no-tax-on-overtime provisions.
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America First Economy

Protect Our Conservative Values

Candidate position
FactVote summary · Policy

Protect Second Amendment rights, oppose abortion, support law enforcement, and oppose school policies he describes as 'woke ideology.'

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Protect Our Conservative Values

Hurricane Recovery

Candidate’s account of past work
FactVote summary · Record / Past Action

Served on the FEMA Review Council and worked with the Trump administration on Hurricane Helene recovery and additional disaster aid for North Carolina.

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I was tapped by President Trump to serve on the FEMA Review Council to guarantee that disaster responses are dramatically improved from the failures seen under the Biden’s FEMA and Governor Roy Cooper’s handling of Hurricane Helene.

So far, I have worked with the Trump administration to deliver more aid for Hurricane Helene recovery than any other recovery project in the history of North Carolina.

Public record

Public-record research limitation

Public-record research limitation

This does not mean the candidate has no prior public service or record. A record attaches only after authoritative office history and a stable provider identity are established; names, titles, attendance, sponsorship, and inferred responsibility are insufficient.

Campaign finance

Official filings may be amended after publication.

FEC candidate totals June 30, 2025 through June 30, 2026.

Total receipts
$11,272,504.49
Total disbursements
$7,810,806.43
Cash on hand
$3,461,698.06
Committee debt
$46,927.61
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Candidate ID: S6NC00415

Name: WHATLEY, MICHAEL

Office: Senate

State: NC

District: North Carolina

Coverage start: 2025-06-30

Coverage end: 2026-06-30

Total receipts: $11272504.49

Total disbursements: $7810806.43

Cash on hand: $3461698.06

Debts owed by committee: $46927.61

Candidate contributions: $0.00

Loans made by candidate: $0.00

Open Federal Election Commission record ↗

Sources

Every profile claim points back to retained source evidence.

  1. Election record

    2026 North Carolina candidate filing — Michael Whatley

    North Carolina State Board of Elections

    Open North Carolina State Board of Elections
  2. Candidate-owned primary source

    Michael Whatley — candidate-owned primary source 1

    Michael Whatley campaign

    Open Michael Whatley campaign
  3. Candidate-owned primary source

    Michael Whatley — candidate-owned primary source 2

    Michael Whatley campaign

    Open Michael Whatley campaign

    Link checked September 15, 2026.

  4. Campaign-finance record

    Michael Whatley — official FEC candidate totals

    Federal Election Commission

    Open Federal Election Commission
  5. Candidate-provided

    Michael Whatley campaign source 3

    Michael Whatley campaign

    Open Michael Whatley campaign
  6. Candidate-owned primary source

    Michael Whatley — campaign source

    Michael Whatley campaign

    Open Michael Whatley campaign
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