After Lara Trump, the GOP’s supposed best choice for North Carolina’s Senate seat, passed on entering the U.S. Senate race, the North Carolina GOP is in chaos mode. Now they’re stuck with Michael Whatley – a MAGA acolyte and lobbyist so entrenched in DC that even Republican operatives in North Carolina admit no one there knows him.
Whatley isn’t just another Trump yes-man – he’s spent years in Washington lining his pockets and pushing dangerous policies that hurt working families in favor of big corporations. Most recently, he backed the Big Ugly Bill – a toxic wishlist of cuts that slashed Medicaid and SNAP benefits while gifting tax breaks for his former lobbying clients – making life harder for struggling North Carolinians.
He’s so disconnected from the people he claims to represent that even Thom Tillis is walking away. Whatley is best known for supporting health care cuts and praising scandal-ridden extremists like Mark Robinson. Whatley’s candidacy is the latest sign of a Republican Party that’s completely out of touch with the people of North Carolina.
“North Carolinians are going to reject a former lobbyist who doesn’t have to think about the cost of living for everyday people, slashes health care, and cheers on extremists like Mark Robinson,” said American Bridge 21st Century spokesperson Nico Delgado. “If the NRSC thinks a DC insider is their best shot after Lara Trump bailed, they’re in worse shape than we thought.”
Swampy Lobbyist and DC Insider
- Whatley’s firm, HBW Resources, lobbied for oil and gas companies.
- Whatley was Executive Vice President of the Consumer Energy Alliance, which fought clean air rules to limit emissions from extracting methane.
Supported Slashing Health Care and Food Assistance for North Carolinians
- Backed the Big Ugly Bill that would:
- Strip healthcare from over 650,000 North Carolinians
- Cut $32 billion in federal funding
- Put 5 rural hospitals at risk of closure
- Slash SNAP benefits for 1.4 million residents
- Raise energy costs in the state by up to 18%
- Opposed Medicaid expansion in North Carolina
Supports Trump’s Economy-Killing Tariffs
- Defended Trump’s tariffs, damaging the state’s farmers, businesses and economy.
Praised Scandal-Ridden Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson
- Claimed “we need more candidates like Mark in politics.”
- Called Robinson the “greatest Lt. Governor in the United States.”
Election Denier
- Whatley was described as “a Stop the Steal guy.”
- Claimed “massive fraud” occurred in the 2020 election.
- Accused states like Michigan and Pennsylvania of blocking Republican observers.
- As RNC Co-Chair, pushed national election denialism.
- Oversaw RNC phone campaigns falsely claiming Democrats committed “massive fraud.”
- Downplayed Republicans’ role in the Jan. 6 Insurrection.
- Tweeted that “violent protestors” were “unjustified and unacceptable” – then deleted it.
- Claimed most of those arrested for Jan. 6 “were not necessarily Republican voters.”
Anti-Abortion Extremist
- Celebrated the overturning of Gov. Cooper’s veto of a 12-week abortion ban.
- Praised the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v Wade.
- Under his leadership, the North Carolina GOP opposed IVF.
- Called for electing “pro-life majorities” across North Carolina.
Published: Jul 31, 2025 | Last Modified: Aug 4, 2025