Latest news with #AxiosLive
Axios
25-07-2025
- Politics
- Axios
Scoop: Inside Thune's effort to keep N.C. in GOP's column
Senate Majority Leader John Thune is planning a fall visit to North Carolina to fundraise for Michael Whatley's upcoming Senate campaign, Axios has learned. Why it matters: Senior Republican officials think the North Carolina contest will be among the most expensive Senate races of 2026 — and that every dollar will matter. "It's always the most expensive race in U.S. history. It will be again," retiring North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis said at an Axios Live event on Wednesday. Tillis, a Republican, announced he won't seek reelection after clashing with President Trump over the president's " big, beautiful bill." Behind closed doors: GOP leaders had given Lara Trump, Trump's daughter-in-law and a North Carolina native who had considered running, the right of first refusal. But during a phone call Thune had with Lara Trump and her husband, Eric Trump, this month, Lara Trump indicated she was leaning against entering the race. When it became clear Lara Trump would not run, Thune turned his attention to wooing Whatley, who was North Carolina GOP chair before Trump handpicked him to be the Republican National Committee chair last year. Thune called Whatley last week and encouraged him to run. Then, on July 16, Whatley attended a reception hosted by the Thune-aligned Senate Leadership Fund super PAC. During the gathering, which was attended by about 75 top donors and senators, the Republican leader introduced Whatley as the party's nominee for North Carolina Senate. The intrigue: Trump and Thune called Whatley on Monday and encouraged him to jump into the race quickly. During the call, Thune pledged the party machinery would consolidate around Whatley. The big picture: Whatley is expected to soon step down from his RNC role to enter the race and will have the full backing of Trump and Thune. It is anticipated he will face off against former Gov. Roy Cooper, who is preparing to launch his campaign next week. Between the lines: By lining up behind Whatley, Trump and Republican leaders are hoping to avoid a divisive primary.
Axios
24-07-2025
- Politics
- Axios
Senate Democrats buoyed by Cooper's decision to run
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) landed his top 2026 recruit in former North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper, giving Democrats some midsummer hope they can steal a GOP Senate seat next year. Why it matters: Democrats have their candidate. Republicans are still looking for theirs. Both sides will have plenty of money. "It's always the most expensive race in U.S. history. It will be again," Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) said at an Axios Live event on Wednesday. But the outgoing senator has some frank advice for his party after its 2024 gubernatorial candidate, Mark Robinson, ran a disastrous campaign. "Let that embarrassment be a lesson to the base who didn't understand" that Robinson could not win in a general election, Tillis said. Driving the news: Cooper is expected to make a formal announcement Monday, but the news, which Axios scooped Wednesday afternoon, ricocheted across town. For a party that has been rolled on policy all year, Democrats are heading into August hopeful that the politics may be cutting in their direction. The other side: Republicans are still waiting for their top nominee to emerge, with all eyes on the president's daughter-in-law Lara Trump. Tillis declined to say whether he would be willing to campaign with Lara Trump but stressed the importance of choosing a candidate who can appeal to the swing voters or "we're going to have a tough time." The ability to raise money will also be a factor: "You have to have a national fundraising platform that's going to match up against the Democrats, who invariably raise — it's usually about a 60-40 split," Tillis said. What they are saying:"Roy Cooper is about to join a very long list of Democrat governors who tried and failed to be elected to the United States Senate," NRSC spokesperson Joanna Rodriguez told Axios in a statement. "Chuck Schumer might be celebrating, but North Carolinians are still reeling from Roy Cooper's botched response to Hurricane Helene," Alex Latcham, executive director of the Senate Leadership Fund, said in a statement. SLF is expected to spend massive amounts on the race. Go deeper: The 2026 Senate map appears relatively small and will likely include just a handful of truly competitive races.
