RNC Chair Michael Whatley to Run for North Carolina Senate Seat, Lara Trump Opts Out

Republican National Committee (RNC) Chairman Michael Whatley will run in North Carolina for the U.S. Senate, The Epoch Times has learned, as President Donald Trump’s daughter-in-law Lara Trump has decided to pass on running a campaign.

“After much consideration and heartfelt discussions with my family, friends, and supporters, I have decided not to pursue the United States Senate seat in North Carolina at this time,” Lara Trump wrote on X on July 24.

“I am deeply grateful for the encouragement and support I have received from the people of my home state, whom I love so much.

“While I am not running in this election, my passion for Making America Great Again burns brightly, and I look forward to the future, wherever that leads.”

Politico first reported on Whatley running and Lara Trump declining to run.

A source familiar with Whatley’s upcoming run confirmed the report to The Epoch Times.

Lara Trump, currently a host on Fox News, was born in North Carolina and was co-chair of the RNC with Whatley between March 2024 and January 2025.

Whatley has been chairman of the RNC since March 2024, succeeding Ronna McDaniel, the niece of former Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah).

He was previously the chairman of the North Carolina GOP.

Under his leadership in 2020, North Carolina Republicans helped Trump squeeze out a narrow victory there over then-President Joe Biden despite the former going on to lose the national race.

Following the 2024 race, Trump asked Whatley to stay on at the RNC.

The North Carolina race is expected to be one of the most expensive contests in 2026, as Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) has declined to run for a third term.

Former North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper, a Democrat, is expected to jump into the race.

With Whatley running, there will be a new successor at the RNC. While it is not ultimately Trump’s decision, he has essentially the final say as he is the de facto leader of the Republican Party.

A major focus of Whatley’s tenure at the RNC has been election integrity. Whatley was part of the legal team of former President George W. Bush’s 2000 presidential campaign amid the recount in Florida.

“We are now running the largest election integrity program in history based on a lot of lessons that we learned back in 2000,” Whatley told The Epoch Times in an interview in 2024, referring to an initiative called the Protect the Vote Tour.