Michael Whatley, chair of the RNC, begins his campaign for the NC Senate, paving the way for new leadership.

Whatley’s Senate Bid Opens Leadership Changes in GOP

In a noteworthy development, Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Whatley has announced his candidacy for the North Carolina Senate seat, marking a significant shift in the party’s leadership.

Whatley can remain in his role at the RNC until he casts his vote for a successor, although no timeline has been set for that transition. His announcement follows Lara Trump’s resignation as RNC co-chair in December, a move that came alongside her new role at Fox News.

Democrats are looking to regain a North Carolina Senate seat, aiming to fill the vacancy left by retiring GOP Senator Tom Tillis. They haven’t held this seat since 2008 and are rallying around former Governor Roy Cooper.

According to an Emerson College poll released recently, Cooper is leading Whatley by 6 percentage points—47% to 41%—with 12% of voters still undecided.

In the backdrop of this election, President Trump is backing Florida Senator Joe Gluters as a candidate to step in for Whatley as RNC chair. Gluters, 48, attracted attention after having a strained relationship with Governor Ron DeSantis.

DeSantis has openly criticized Gluters for opposing legislation that aimed to curtail the influence of teacher unions and for advocating for constitutional reforms related to marijuana decriminalization in Florida.

Gluters found himself in the middle of a conflict with DeSantis and the Republican-led Florida Legislature after lawmakers pushed back against the governor’s proposals.

DeSantis has specifically called out Gluters, stating that he was the “author and architect” of policies he deemed harmful to Trump’s immigration agenda.

Despite this friction, Trump lauded Gluters on Friday, referring to him as a “Maga Warrior” who has been a steadfast ally. Trump emphasized Gluters’ contributions to Republican victories in previous elections.

As the outgoing chair, Whatley’s successor will guide the party through the pivotal midterm elections in 2026. Trump expressed hopes that Republicans can expand their influence in both the House and Senate.

Following Gluters, Trump is endorsing Jennifer Saul Rich to take the role of RNC treasurer. Rich has had a long-standing commitment to the party, having served on New York’s National Committee since 2004.