With Lara Trump stepping back, Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Whatley is anticipated to enter the North Carolina Senate race, as per reports.
Whatley has been at the helm of the RNC since last March and is gearing up to challenge Democratic Governor Roy Cooper of North Carolina. This information was reported by Politico.
Democrats are eyeing this race as a significant pickup opportunity in the 2026 election cycle, especially after losing the North Carolina Senate seat previously held by the Republicans.
Senator Tom Tillis (R-NC), who has held his seat since 2015, announced last month that he would not be seeking reelection, partly due to his famous disputes with Trump over a major legislative initiative.
Lara Trump, originally from Wilmington, North Carolina, had previously been considered a potential Senate candidate.
She served as co-chair of the RNC until January of this year, and publicly stated, “After heartfelt discussions with family, friends, and supporters, I’ve decided to withdraw from the North Carolina Senate race.”
She expressed gratitude for the support she received, saying, “I am thankful for the encouragement from those I love in my hometown.”
Although she did not run in this election, she affirmed her passion for enhancing America.
Lara, married to Eric Trump, initially turned down bids for the Old North State Senate seat in 2022, which was eventually won by Senator Ted Budd (R-NC). She also considered runs in the Florida Senate race, which became available when her father-in-law appointed Marco Rubio as Secretary of State.
Currently, she hosts a Fox News show called “My View,” where she interviews influential figures within the party, including her stepfather and White House Chief Susie Wiles.
Prior to entering the RNC, Whatley led the North Carolina Republican Party from 2019 to 2024, where he gained favor with Trump through his support for challenging the 2020 election results.
Behind the scenes, Republicans have been intensely searching for a prominent candidate to fill the open Senate seat in North Carolina.
Although Trump secured the state last November, GOP candidates faced difficulties in the gubernatorial race after Republican Mark Robinson was embroiled in various scandals.
Since January, the National Republican Senatorial Committee has been considering Whatley as a viable candidate to succeed Tillis, as revealed by a GOP operative.
Tim Scott, the NRSC Chairman from South Carolina, met with Whatley to discuss potential candidacies and gauge party alignment with Trump for the best chance of winning.
As things stand, Republicans hold a slim majority of 53-47 seats and will be defending 22 out of the 35 seats in the Senate during the 2026 elections.
Historically, the party in the White House has faced challenges in midterm elections, but that trend doesn’t always hold true for Senate races.
