There won’t be a Trump on the ballot in North Carolina’s Senate race, but the president is still putting his imprint on the marquee 2026 matchup.
Lara Trump, President Donald Trump’s daughter-in-law and his first choice for the U.S. Senate seat in the state where she was born, announced July 24 she won’t be running. So the president went to his second choice, endorsing Republican National Committee chair and former North Carolina GOP Chair Michael Whatley in a July 24 social media post.
Whatley was Trump’s handpicked candidate to lead the RNC during the 2024 election cycle, helping him win the popular vote and secure victories in every swing state, including North Carolina. Whatley co-chaired the RNC with Lara Trump, who resigned after the election. Lara Trump is married to the president’s second child, Eric Trump.
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North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis opted not to seek re-election in 2026 after he announced his opposition to Trump’s signature tax legislation, criticizing the bill’s cuts to Medicaid. Whatley would give Trump a staunch supporter in the Senate if he wins, with the president declaring, “I need him in Washington.”
Whatley hasn’t announced his plans, but is expected to run for the seat, according to media reports. Trump also endorsed a replacement for Whatley to chair the RNC, Florida state senator and former Florida GOP chair Joe Gruters.
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Gruters is a longtime Trump supporter who co-chaired the president’s 2016 campaign in Florida with current White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles.
“I’m looking forward to advancing President Trump’s America First agenda as the next chair of the RNC,” Gruters said in a statement.
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North Carolina is a pivotal battleground state and the Senate race is one of the premier contests of the upcoming midterm elections, which will decide if Republicans maintain control of Congress and the ability to enact Trump’s agenda. Republicans hold a 53-47 majority in the Senate.
Democrats are expected to closely contest the North Carolina race. Former North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper is considered a top potential Democratic candidate.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Donald Trump backs Michael Whatley after Lara Trump passes on NC race
