RNC chair steps down to run for Senate in NC
Meanwhile, former Gov. Roy Cooper, a Democrat, will announce 'in the coming days' whether he will run for Senate, said Morgan Jackson, Cooper's adviser.
Whatley, a Watauga County native, previously led the state's Republican Party before Trump picked him to lead the national committee in 2024. Whatley has a long history in and around North Carolina politics but has yet to be a candidate.
Whatley and Lara Trump, his former RNC co-chair, were rumored to be considering a run for the seat currently occupied by Sen. Thom Tillis, a Republican from Huntersville, who unexpectedly announced he wouldn't seek a third term as planned.
Politico reported Thursday morning that Trump, who is the president's daughter-in-law and a Fox News host, will not run.
It was widely reported that Republicans across the state were waiting for Lara Trump to make a decision about running before others declared their candidacy in the 2026 Senate election.
Whatley will face off against retired businessman Andy Nilsson and former JAG officer Don Brown in the Republican primary.
The race is expected to be highly watched and break campaign finance records while Republicans try to maintain the narrow majority it holds in the Senate.
Whatley's departure as chair of the National Republican Committee leaves the party looking for a replacement at a time when Republicans are trying to maintain the narrow majorities they hold in both chambers of Congress.
Distributed by Tribune Content Agency.
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