Trump had previously courted Lara Trump for the seat, but Politico reported that she has decided to remain on Fox News, continuing her weekly show. Instead, she’s expected to back Whatley, who ...

Whatley steps in after Lara Trump—President Trump's daughter-in-law and former RNC co-chair—decided not to pursue the seat, opting instead to continue hosting her Fox News show.

Trump-backed RNC Chair Michael Whatley jumps into North Carolina's Senate race as Lara Trump declines to run, creating a battle for one of 2026's competitive seats.

Whatley became RNC chair in March 2024 and, alongside Lara Trump, taking over as chair when she departed for Fox News. His replacement at the RNC is expected to be named once his Senate run is ...