Vote the PersonNot the party
Support the siteTake the quiz
Candidate

Michael Whatley

Republican

Former Chairman of the Republican National Committee

Michael Whatley was chairman of the North Carolina Republican Party and, during the 2024 cycle, chairman of the Republican National Committee1. He previously worked as a federal law clerk and as chief of staff to Senator Elizabeth Dole, and led energy, environment and agriculture teams on the 2016 Trump transition1. He lives in Gaston County and is the Republican nominee for the open U.S. Senate seat18.

Where they stand 6 issues · tap any issue for the evidence

  • Politicians trading stocksNo, ban it for members and their spousesmedium
    Said · medium confidence
    • Said he would support a ban on congressional stock trading if elected. (2026-02) source
  • ImmigrationSecure the border first; deport those with criminal records; keep legal immigration steadymedium
    Said · medium confidence
    • His platform says he is fully supportive of President Trump securing the border and deporting the millions of criminal illegal aliens he says entered under the prior administration. (2026) source
    • His campaign told WRAL he would vote for what President Trump wants on immigration and would work to keep that approach after Trump leaves office; he also called for more enforcement funding. (2026-08) source
  • Income taxesCut taxes across the board, including for top earners and corporationsmedium
    Said · medium confidence
    • Praised the 2025 Working Families Tax Cuts law, including no tax on tips, overtime and Social Security, and pledged to back similar tax cuts. (2026-07) source
  • Transgender athletesNo, teams should be based on biological sex, with open or coed optionsmedium
    Said · medium confidence
    • Praised North Carolina's law barring transgender athletes from girls' and women's school sports and criticized his opponent's veto of it. (2026-09-25) source
    • Said his opponent is for men in girls' sports, locker rooms and bathrooms, and pledged to protect children. (2026) source
  • AbortionIllegal, except to save the mother's life or in cases of rape or incestlow
    Said · low confidence
    • Lists protecting life among the conservative values he says he will fight for. (2026) source
  • Energy and climateNo single answer fitsmedium
    Said · medium confidence
    • Says economic strength depends on reliable, affordable energy and calls for unleashing American energy and achieving energy independence. (2026) source

No public position found on: National debt, Social Security, Safety net programs, Minimum wage, Business regulation, Healthcare, Guns, Trade and tariffs, Foreign policy, Judges, Marijuana, Redistricting, Term limits, Campaign finance, Electoral College, Supreme Court reform, Death penalty, Qualified immunity, Mandatory minimums, Drug prices, Childcare and pre-K, Paid leave, Student loans, AI regulation, Kids online, School vaccines, Nuclear power, Birthright citizenship, E-Verify mandate, DEI programs, Religion in schools, Aid to Israel, Aid to Ukraine, China policy.

Record

  • Served as chairman of the North Carolina Republican Party and as chairman of the Republican National Committee during the 2024 cycle1.
  • Served as chief of staff to U.S. Senator Elizabeth Dole1.
  • Appointed by President Trump to the FEMA Review Council2.

Who funds this campaign

Official reports filed with the Federal Election Commission (FEC) for January 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026.

$11,272,504raised
$7,810,806spent
$3,461,698cash on hand

Where the money came from

  • People who gaveincluding $1,775,437 in gifts under $200$5,465,482
  • PACs and other political committees$874,330
  • Political party committees$62,000
  • Transfers from joint fundraising and other campaign committees$4,621,452

Largest contributions from PACs and parties

As named in the filings, net of any refunds. Joint fundraising transfers are counted in the totals above.

  1. NRSCParty committee$62,000
  2. TRUIST FINANCIAL CORPORATION FEDERAL PAC (FORMERLY SUNTRUST BANKS, INC. POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE)PAC$10,000
  3. THE COUNCIL OF INSURANCE AGENTS & BROKERS POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEEPAC$10,000
  4. SENATE EAGLE PACPAC$10,000
  5. PAC FOR AMERICAPAC$10,000
  6. NEBRASKA SANDHILLS PACPAC$10,000
  7. CONTINUING AMERICA'S STRENGTH AND SECURITY PACPAC$10,000
  8. CONSERVATIVES HARVESTING SUCCESS PACPAC$10,000
  9. COMMON VALUES PACPAC$10,000
  10. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA PAC (US CHAMBER PAC)PAC$10,000

Gifts from individual people are listed by name in the full filings. See every report on FEC.gov. Numbers updated October 5, 2026; we add no labels or judgments to any donor.

Last reviewed 2026-10-06. Spotted something wrong? Every claim links to its source so you can check it yourself.

Sources (8)

Every claim on this page links to one of these
  1. AboutMichael Whatley for Senate
  2. IssuesMichael Whatley for Senate
  3. Cooper, Whatley on immigration: A fight over how to focus enforcementWRAL
  4. Senate candidates spar in NC as Trump calls for banning Congressional stock tradingWRAL
  5. Whatley praises NC laws Cooper vetoed on school lessons and transgender athletesThe News & Observer
  6. Whatley On The One Year Anniversary of the Working Families Tax Cuts Being Signed Into LawMichael Whatley for Senate
  7. Michael Whatley, Women's Sports Activist Payton McNabb, and Congressman Mark Harris Host Press ConferenceMichael Whatley for Senate
  8. 2026 Candidate Listing (general election, Nov 3, 2026)North Carolina State Board of Elections