Republican candidate for U.S. Senate in North Carolina. Every point on this page links to its source. We don't grade candidates or tell you how to vote. As of 2026-09-28.
Offices outside Congress are from Wikidata, a public, crowd-edited database.
Where they stand
In their own words, from their campaign website, summarised in plain English.
Economy and cost of living
No stated position on their website.
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Taxes and government spending
No stated position on their website.
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Health care
No stated position on their website.
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Social Security and Medicare
No stated position on their website.
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Immigration and the border
No stated position on their website.
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Abortion
No stated position on their website.
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Energy and climate
No stated position on their website.
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Guns
No stated position on their website.
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Foreign policy and defense
No stated position on their website.
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Elections and ethics in government
Whatley says that as senator he would work with Trump to roll back lenient criminal justice policies, support law enforcement, and restore what he calls law and order, criticizing cashless bail and pretrial release policies enacted under Governor Cooper.
“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.”
From FEC filings for 2025–26. Outside spending is money a group spends on its own about a candidate — TV and online ads, mail, canvassing. It is not a donation to the campaign, and the candidate does not control it. Supporting means it was spent to help that candidate win; Opposing means it was spent to defeat them, usually on attack ads. Groups report it within 24 or 48 hours as the election nears. Raised is the campaign's own fundraising, as of its latest quarterly report. Largest donors come from each outside spender's own FEC receipts, with each donor's share of its itemized receipts; donors under $100,000 are not named. People are shown with the employer and occupation they reported. A donor that is itself a political committee is shown with its own largest donors. Companies and nonprofits don't report their funders to the FEC, so the trail ends there, and the page says so.
Michael Whatley (REP)
Raised
$11.3M through 2026-06-30individuals $5.5M · PACs $874K · party $62K · from the candidate's other committees $4.6M · cash on hand $3.5M
WINSENATE— $19.2M opposing Whatley
· 6 ads on this pageLargest donors:
SMP $4.1M (100%) (its largest donors: MAJORITY FORWARD $61.0M, an organization; Fred Eychaner $9.0M; DEMOCRACY PAC $9.0M)AMERICANS FOR PROSPERITY ACTION, INC. (AFP ACTION) DBA CVA ACTION AND DBA LIBRE ACTION— $4.4M supporting Whatley
· 6 ads on this pageLargest donors:
KOCH INC $30.0M (33%) (an organization: its own funders aren't reported to the FEC); STAND TOGETHER INC. $20.0M (22%) (an organization: its own funders aren't reported to the FEC); Jim C Walton $7.0M (8%), Self-Employed, Philanthropist; S Robson Walton $7.0M (8%), Retired, Retired; STAND TOGETHER CHAMBER OF COMMERCE INC $6.5M (7%) (an organization: its own funders aren't reported to the FEC)NO GOING BACK PAC INC.— $1.0M supporting WhatleySLF PAC— $658K supporting Whatley
· 25 ads on this pageLargest donors:
ONE NATION $70.7M (28%) (an organization: its own funders aren't reported to the FEC); Miriam Adelson $30.0M (12%), Adelson Drug Clinic, Physician; Stephen A Schwarzman $17.0M (7%), Blackstone, Chairman & CEO; Paul Elliott Singer $14.5M (6%), EMC, President; Elon Musk $10.0M (4%), Space Exploration Technologies Corp., CEOEDF ACTION VOTES— $500K opposing WhatleyLargest donors:
ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENSE ACTION FUND $10.7M (75%) (an organization: its own funders aren't reported to the FEC); Susan Z Mandel $2.5M (18%), NOT Employed, NOT Employed; Michael Bills $200K (1%), Bluestem Asset Management, Founder; John Sall $100K (1%), SAS Institute INC, Executive Statistician; Virginia Sall $100K (1%), Homemakerand 8 more
DEVON ENERGY CORPORATION POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE (DEC PAC) $5,000
DIRIGO PAC $10K
DUKE ENERGY CORPORATION EMPLOYEE POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE, ELIZABETH $10K
E-PAC $10K
ELECTING MAJORITY MAKING EFFECTIVE REPUBLICANS PAC $5,000
ENERGY MARKETERS OF AMERICA SMALL BUSINESS COMMITTEE PAC (EMA SBC PAC) $1,000
FEDERAL BIPARTISAN VOLUNTARY PUBLIC AFFAIRS COMMITTEE OF THE PNC FINANCIAL SERVICES GROUP, INC. (PNC $10K
FIGHT ON PAC $5,000
FIRST IN FREEDOM PAC $10K
FLORIDA LEADS $10K
FREEDOM FOR AMERICA (FFA PAC) $5,000
FREEDOM FUND $10K
FRIENDS OF TIM MOORE $4,000
FUND FOR AMERICA'S FUTURE $10K
HALLIBURTON COMPANY PAC $5,000
HEARTLAND VALUES PAC $10K
HELPING EXCEPTIONAL LEADERS ORGANIZE PAC (HELO PAC) $5,000
HF SINCLAIR POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE (DINO PAC) $2,000
HORNETS NEST REPUBLICAN MENS CLUB $1,000
HUCK PAC FOR AMERICA $10K
HUDSON FOR CONGRESS $4,000
IN THE ARENA PAC $5,000
INNOVATION POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE $5,000
IPAA WILDCATTERS FUND $5,000
JOBS OPPORTUNITY NOW POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE $10K
JOHNSTON CO REPUBLICAN WOMEN $300
KOCH, INC. POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE (KOCHPAC) $10K
LEAD ENCOURAGE ELECT PAC $10K
LEADERSHIP AND ACCOUNTABILITY ARE NATIONAL KEYS PAC $10K
LETS GET TO WORK PAC $10K
LIFEPOINT HEALTH PAC - THE PAC OF LIFEPOINT CORPORATE SERVICES, GENERAL PARTNERSHIP (LCSGP) AND FACILITIES WHICH ARE SUBSIDIARIES OF LIFEPOINT HEALTH (COLLECTIVELY LIFEPOINT) $3,500
LINCOLN COUNTY REPUBLICAN PARTY $300
MAKING A RESPONSIBLE STAND FOR HOUSEHOLDS IN AMERICA PAC $10K
MARATHON PETROLEUM CORPORATION EMPLOYEES POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE (MPAC) $5,000
MARK HARRIS FOR CONGRESS $2,000
MCDOWELL FOR CONGRESS $4,000
MR PAC $10K
MVL PAC $10K
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF MUTUAL INSURANCE COMPANIES PAC $4,000
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF WHOLESALER-DISTRIBUTORS POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE $5,000
NATIONAL CATTLEMEN'S BEEF ASSOCIATION PAC (NCBA-PAC)) $5,000
NATIONAL COTTON COUNCIL OF AMERICA COMMITTEE FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF COTTON $10K
NATIONAL ELECTRICAL CONTRACTORS ASSOCIATION POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE $5,000
NATIONAL LIMOUSINE ASSOCIATION POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE (NLA PAC) $1,000
NATIONAL SHOOTING SPORTS FOUNDATION, INC. POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE (NSSF PAC) $2,500
NEBRASKA SANDHILLS PAC $10K
NORTH CAROLINA FIRST $10K
NORTH MECKLENBURG REPUBLICANS $1,000
OORAH! POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE $10K
OVINTIV USA INC. PAC $2,000
PAC FOR AMERICA $10K
PEACH STATE PAC $2,000
PENDER COUNTY GOP $1,000
PENNSYLVANIA HONOR $10K
PHILLIPS 66 PAC $10K
PINNACLE WEST CAPITAL CORPORATION PAC $10K
PRAYERIE PAC $3,500
RANDOLPH CO REPUBLICAN EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE $1,000
RANGER PAC $5,000
RELY ON YOUR BELIEFS FUND $1,000
RENEWABLE FUNDS ASSOCIATION PAC, GEOFF $2,500
REPUBLICAN JEWISH COALITION POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE (RJC-PAC) $5,000
REPUBLICAN MAJORITY FUND $10K
REPUBLICAN WOMEN OF GREATER CHARLOTTE $1,000
RESPONSIBILITY AND FREEDOM WORK PAC (RFWPAC) $10K
RESTORE TRUST PAC $1,000
SALEM MEDIA GROUP POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE, INC. $3,500
SCALISE FOR CONGRESS $4,000
SEAL PAC, RYAN $5,000
SENATE EAGLE PAC $10K
SEND IN THE SEAL PAC $10K
SERVICE CORPORATION INTERNATIONAL PAC $3,500
SPECIALTY EQUIPMENT MARKET ASSOCIATION & PERFORMANCE RACING, INC. PAC (SEMA & PRI PAC) $2,500
STAND FOR AMERICA PAC $5,000
STEER PAC $10K
STRATEGY PAC $10K
THE CHEMOURS COMPANY POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE CHEMOURS PAC $5,000
THE COUNCIL OF INSURANCE AGENTS & BROKERS POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE $10K
THE EYE OF THE TIGER PAC $10K
THE HAWKEYE PAC $7,500
THE OVERCASH COMMITTEE $1,000
THE PETER NORBECK LEADERSHIP PAC $10K
THE WILLIAMS COMPANIES, INC. POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE $1,000
TOMORROW IS MEANINGFUL PAC $10K
TRANSCANADA USA SERVICES, INC. PAC (TC PAC) $2,000
TRIANGLE REPUBLICAN WOMEN $230
TRUE NORTH PAC $10K
TRUIST FINANCIAL CORPORATION FEDERAL PAC (FORMERLY SUNTRUST BANKS, INC. POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE) $10K
UPPER HAND FUND $5,000
US ENERGY PAC (THE PAC OF AMERICAN EXPLORATION & PRODUCTION COUNCIL, INC.) $10K
VALERO ENERGY CORPORATION POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE $5,000
What named supporters and critics say, as reported. Shown in equal numbers.
Praise
John Thune: Says Whatley did an exceptional job leading the RNC and is excited to endorse him for Senate. washingtonexaminer.com
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Lisa Weaver, Republican voter: Says she picked Whatley because as former RNC chairman he's in tune with issues Republicans care about and would assist the president. wunc.org
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Art Pope: Says Whatley was well-equipped to lead the RNC. apnews.com
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NCGOP spokesperson Matt Mercer: Says Whatley called Robinson's comments antithetical to Republican values and called for accountability. newsobserver.com
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Criticism
Roy Cooper campaign (Jeff Allen, campaign manager): Calls Whatley a D.C. insider and big oil lobbyist whose policies raise health care and living costs. apnews.com
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Roy Cooper: Says the Supreme Court's campaign finance ruling empowers Whatley because of his RNC access to wealthy donors and party money. thehill.com
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Jordan Monaghan, Cooper campaign spokesperson: Says it's disturbing that Whatley continues using footage of Zarutska's death against her family's wishes and accuses him of lying for political gain. nbcnews.com
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Paul Shumaker: Says Whatley must build his own identity since he is less well known than Cooper, making his path more expensive. cnn.com
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Controversies
Stated as reported. Most are reported by at least two independent news outlets or found in an official record; any with only one source so far is marked Single source.
Court cases
Contested 2023 NC GOP chair election Single source
Only one source found so far. We keep looking for a second, independent report.
Whatley's reelection as North Carolina GOP chair followed a chaotic vote using a mobile app that had technical problems; attendees sued alleging ballot irregularities, and the lawsuit was ultimately dismissed. Whatley's challenger, John Kane Jr., alleged Whatley either cheated or was incompetent.
Convicted sex offender led prayer at Whatley campaign event
The Associated Press reported that a preacher, Daimon King, a repeat sex offender, led a prayer at a campaign event for Whatley in Craven County, and the campaign's rapid response account has been questioned for its response. Whatley's campaign said it did not organize or invite King and that Whatley was not present when King spoke.
Promotion of false 2020 election fraud claims Single source
Only one source found so far. We keep looking for a second, independent report.
A CNN KFile review found that Whatley shared false claims that Republican observers were prevented from accessing polling locations and repeatedly asserted, without evidence, that there was "massive fraud" in cities including Milwaukee, Detroit, and Philadelphia after the 2020 election. Whatley later acknowledged Biden as the legitimate president.
Financial holdings in energy companies amid support for data center expansion Single source
Only one source found so far. We keep looking for a second, independent report.
Fox News reported Whatley and his family hold between $246,000 and $690,000 in energy investments, including in Duke Energy, Dominion Energy, and GE Vernova, companies tied to data center growth in North Carolina, raising questions about a potential conflict of interest given his support for data center expansion. Whatley also reported $361,000 in consulting income from a firm whose clients include GE Vernova.
Cooper campaign ad alleging Whatley appointed sex offender West to leadership Single source
Only one source found so far. We keep looking for a second, independent report.
Roy Cooper's campaign released a 30-second ad accusing Whatley of appointing Harvey Lee West, a registered sex offender who served six years in prison for sex crimes against children, to senior party leadership positions and allowing him to attend events with children.
Failure to appear in court on traffic charges and 2015 arrest order Single source
Only one source found so far. We keep looking for a second, independent report.
USA Today reported that Whatley failed to appear in court in multiple traffic cases across North Carolina and Virginia over several decades, including a 2015 Rutherford County case in which two bench warrants were issued for his arrest after he missed court dates on a speeding charge; the warrants were recalled after he retained an attorney.
Response: Spokesmen for the Whatley campaign did not respond to multiple emails and phone calls requesting comment.
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