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.

Michael Whatley, chairman of the national Republican Party, plans to run for an open Senate seat in North Carolina in 2026, with the blessing of President Donald Trump, after Trump’s daughter-in-law,

Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Whatley is expected to run for the Senate in North Carolina, setting up a marquee race in next year’s midterms, two sources familiar with Whatley’s plans tell CNN.

Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Whatley will run for Senate in North Carolina. Whatley will be in a highly competitive and likely expensive race to replace Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC), who announced his retirement earlier this year.

Chair Michael Whatley is planning to run for Senate in North Carolina to succeed retiring Sen. Thom Tillis (R), a source familiar confirmed to The Hill. The source said Whatley will run with President Trump’s blessing for the seat,

Former Vice President Mike Pence joins North Carolina Republican Party Chairman Michael Whatley, left, and U.S. Senate candidate Ted Budd at the state GOP headquarters in Raleigh, North Carolina ...

Whatley also pushed to censure former Republican Sen. Richard Burr after he voted to convict Trump for his alleged role in inciting the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol attack. Is Lara Trump from North Carolina?