President Donald Trump has endorsed Republican National Committee Chair Michael Whatley for North Carolina’s open Senate seat, instead of his daughter-in-law, Lara Trump. She announced she would not pursue the position, marking a significant shift in the 2026 race dynamics.
Lara Trump confirmed her decision on July 24 through a statement on social media, ending months of speculation about her potential candidacy. She indicated that after extensive consideration and discussions with family, friends, and supporters, she had decided against pursuing the United States Senate seat at this time. The former RNC co-chair expressed gratitude for the encouragement she received from North Carolina residents.
President Trump quickly moved to endorse Whatley in a July 24 social media post. Trump praised Whatley’s capabilities and declared his complete support, stating that “I need him in Washington.” Trump emphasized Whatley’s role in helping secure victories in every swing state during the 2024 election cycle, including North Carolina.
Whatley, 57, previously served as chair of the North Carolina Republican Party for five years before becoming RNC chair in March 2024. He co-chaired the RNC alongside Lara Trump, who resigned from her position in December 2024. The Watauga County native has deep roots in North Carolina politics, having volunteered for Senator Jesse Helms’ 1984 reelection campaign as a high school student.
The Senate seat became available after incumbent Republican Thom Tillis announced he would not seek reelection in 2026. Tillis’ decision came after he opposed Trump’s signature tax legislation, criticizing the bill’s cuts to Medicaid funding. Tillis indicated the legislation would result in tens of billions of dollars in lost funding for North Carolina, including hospitals and rural communities.
This marks the third time Lara Trump has considered a Senate run. She initially explored entering the Republican primary to replace North Carolina Senator Richard Burr when he retired in 2022, but ultimately withdrew from contention. Earlier this year, Trump briefly considered nominating her to fill Marco Rubio’s Senate seat when he became Secretary of State, but withdrew her name from consideration two weeks later.
Lara Trump, who married Eric Trump in 2014, currently hosts a Fox News weekend show called “My View with Lara Trump,” which she began in February. She has also pursued an entertainment career, releasing Christian pop music and dropping her sixth single just days before announcing her decision not to run for Senate.
Sources familiar with the matter indicated that Trump conveyed his support for Whatley during a direct conversation this week. The President reportedly believes Whatley is well-positioned to face the expected Democratic challenger, former North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper, who sources say plans to announce his candidacy as early as this week.
Whatley’s political background includes serving as a legal advisor for the George W. Bush campaign during the 2000 Florida recount, working at the Department of Energy under Bush, and serving as chief of staff for former Senator Elizabeth Dole. He transitioned to the energy sector before returning to North Carolina politics in 2015, where he became one of the first Republicans to support Trump in the GOP primary.
During his tenure as state party chair, Whatley helped Republicans gain control of the North Carolina Supreme Court and Court of Appeals while securing veto-proof supermajorities in both chambers of the state legislature. Party operatives have credited him with stabilizing the state party after former chairman Robin Hayes was indicted for lying to federal officials amid a bribery investigation.
Trump also announced his endorsement of Florida state senator Joe Gruters to replace Whatley as RNC chair. Gruters, a longtime Trump supporter, co-chaired the President’s 2016 campaign in Florida alongside current White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles.
The North Carolina Senate race is expected to be one of the most competitive and expensive contests in the 2026 midterm elections. Republicans currently hold a 53-47 majority in the Senate, making this seat crucial for both parties’ control ambitions. Democrats view the race as one of their best opportunities to flip a Republican-held seat, particularly with Cooper’s strong statewide electoral record.
Other candidates have already entered the Republican primary, including former lieutenant governor candidate Andy Nilsson and former congressional candidate Don Brown, though Trump’s endorsement of Whatley is expected to significantly impact the race dynamics. National Republican Senatorial Committee Chairman Tim Scott has met with Whatley about his potential run, and the committee had been floating him as a potential candidate since January.
