Candidate · November 3, 2026
Michael Whatley
On the ballot for U.S. Senate · North Carolina
- raised through Oct 14, 2026
- $14M
- cash on hand
- $902K
- issues with public statements
- 5
- outside spending for or against
- $30M
§1On the ballot
Why this matters: This is exactly how the candidate appears on your ballot, from the state's official candidate list.
| Office | U.S. Senate · North Carolina1, |
|---|---|
| Party on the ballot | Republican Party1, |
| Status | Open seat — no incumbent is running for this seat. |
| Also on the ballot |
|
§2Who they are
Why this matters: Background and experience help you judge how someone might do the job. These come from public records and the candidate's own materials.
Drafted by AI from the public sources cited. Each sentence links to its source.
Michael Whatley was raised in Blowing Rock, North Carolina, and graduated from Watauga High School.4 He earned a history degree from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, a master's degree in religion from Wake Forest University, and a law degree from the University of Notre Dame.4 He worked as a federal law clerk in Charlotte and as chief of staff to U.S. Senator Elizabeth Dole, and after the 2016 election he led the presidential transition's energy, environment and agriculture teams.4 He has served as chairman of the North Carolina Republican Party and as chairman of the Republican National Committee during the 2024 election cycle.4
Why they say they're running
His campaign website says he is running to advance President Trump's America First agenda in the U.S. Senate.5,
Websites and accounts
- Campaign websitemichaelwhatley.com5
- X (Twitter)x.com/WhatleyNC5
- Facebookfacebook.com/whatleyfornc5
- Instagraminstagram.com/whatleyfornc5
§3What they've said on the issues
Why this matters: These are positions the candidate has stated publicly — on their campaign website or in public statements — summarized in plain words with a link to where they said it. Issues they haven't spoken about publicly are left out.
Drafted by AI from the public sources cited. Each sentence links to its source.
Each issue has its own range of views. A position is marked on that range only when the candidate's own statement clearly matches one option; there is no overall left–right score.
Crime, Policing and Prisons
Immigration
His campaign website says he fully supports President Trump's efforts to secure the border and to deport what it describes as millions of immigrants in the country illegally who have committed crimes.5,
His campaign website criticizes the veto of a state bill that would have required local sheriffs to cooperate with ICE.6
Taxes and Budget
His campaign website calls for reining in federal spending and practicing fiscal responsibility.6
Infrastructure and Transportation
His campaign website says President Trump chose him to serve on the FEMA Review Council, which it says is meant to improve disaster response, and that he has worked with the administration to deliver Hurricane Helene recovery aid to North Carolina.6
§4Money
Why this matters: Campaigns report where their money comes from and how much they have left. Outside groups that spend on their own, without coordinating with the campaign, report that too.
Reported to the Federal Election Commission for the 2025–2026 election cycle, through October 14, 2026.7
| Raised | $13,668,468 |
|---|---|
| Spent | $12,766,229 |
| Cash on hand | $902,238 |
Where the money came from
Outside spending
Groups spending independently reported $6,361,076 supporting and $23,404,419 opposing Michael Whatley this cycle, primary and general combined, in the 24- and 48-hour reports the law requires for larger expenditures, filed through October 25, 2026.8
| Group | Supporting | Opposing |
|---|---|---|
| WinSenate | — | $21,603,957 |
| Americans for Prosperity Action, Inc. (AFP Action) DBA CVA Action and DBA LIBRE Action | $4,369,543 | — |
| NO GOING BACK PAC INC. | $1,266,300 | — |
| SLF PAC | $657,773 | — |
| LCV Victory Fund | — | $500,460 |
| EDF Action Votes | — | $500,390 |
| NRDC Action Votes | — | $500,000 |
| Progress North Carolina Action | — | $286,480 |
Smaller expenditures that appear only on a group's regular monthly or quarterly report aren't in these totals, so the full amounts can be somewhat higher. When a group amends a report, only its latest version is counted.
§5Financial disclosures
Why this matters: Federal candidates and members of Congress must report their assets, income, debts and outside jobs, and members must report stock trades. These filings show possible conflicts of interest.
Senate candidates and senators file with the Senate's own disclosure system, which asks each visitor to agree to its terms before searching, so we can't link straight to a filing. You can search for Michael Whatley at efdsearch.senate.gov9.