President Donald Trump is campaigning in North Carolina to support Michael Whatley’s Senate bid, as the GOP aims to retain a crucial seat in the 2026 midterm elections.
President Donald Trump is making a significant campaign stop in North Carolina this Friday, focusing on the imperative of retaining an open Senate seat previously held by a Republican. The event is part of the GOP’s strategy to maintain control in the upcoming 2026 midterm elections.
Trump will join forces with Michael Whatley, a former chair of the Republican National Committee (RNC) and the leading candidate for the GOP Senate nomination to succeed retiring Republican Senator Thom Tillis. Whatley is expected to face off against former two-term Democratic Governor Roy Cooper in what is anticipated to be one of the most competitive and costly Senate races in the nation, as the GOP seeks to uphold its 53-47 majority in the Senate.
Affordability is set to be a central theme in the campaign, with rising prices being a significant concern for voters. “President Trump won North Carolina all three times—2016, 2020, and 2024—because he connects directly with the people of North Carolina, talking about the issues that they care about. So it is very important to have him on the ground,” Whatley stated in a recent interview with Fox News Digital.
One of the challenges for Republicans heading into the midterms is mobilizing low-propensity MAGA voters and other Trump supporters, who may not turn out in elections where the former president is not on the ballot. Whatley, who was encouraged by Trump to run for the Senate, hopes to see the president return to North Carolina multiple times during the campaign.
<p”He is fantastically popular in North Carolina,” Whatley remarked about Trump. “He has a real affinity for the state. The voters love him, and it’ll be very, very good to get him back in North Carolina.” Whatley and other Republicans are framing the 2026 elections as a referendum on Trump and his policies.
<p”We’re certainly going to need him to be on the ballot,” Whatley emphasized. “When you think about what happens if we lose the House, if we lose the Senate, if the Democrats take over, they will revert to investigations and hoaxes and impeachments. That is really, truly the president and his legacy on the ballot.”
With inflation remaining a persistent issue, Democrats have been focusing on affordability, which contributed to their successes in recent elections. Whatley acknowledged that while the economy has been a challenge, he believes there are signs of improvement. “We’re seeing signs already that the economy is starting to tick up and is starting to take hold as the President’s policies are getting in place,” he said. “We need to ensure that we have the trade policies, the tax policies, and the regulatory policies from this administration that will benefit our small businesses, manufacturers, and farmers across North Carolina.”
However, Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin has a different perspective, asserting that Trump and the Republicans are headed for electoral defeat. “Donald Trump has lost the economy, is losing his mind, and is going to lose the midterms,” Martin stated ahead of Trump’s event in North Carolina.
Whatley has been actively campaigning across North Carolina, emphasizing his commitment to engaging with every community. “We will be in all 100 counties across North Carolina, and we’re fighting for every single family,” he said. He also expressed confidence in his connection to Trump, stating, “Our voters know Donald Trump, and they know me. I’ve worked on his campaigns since 2016. President Trump won North Carolina in all three election cycles. So we know how to win, and we have the policies that are going to win.”
In his criticism of Cooper, Whatley argued that the former governor has consistently sided with unpopular positions. “Roy Cooper is on the wrong side of every 80-20 issue. He has fought harder for criminals, for illegal aliens, and for those who want to compete in women’s sports and use women’s locker rooms. Those are issues he will have to defend,” Whatley charged.
In response, Cooper’s campaign countered by stating that the former governor has dedicated his career to advocating for North Carolina families, focusing on lowering healthcare costs and enhancing community safety. They criticized Whatley for his long-standing ties to Washington politicians, claiming he has prioritized the interests of billionaires and special interests over the middle class.
As the 2026 midterm elections approach, the stakes are high for both parties in North Carolina, with the outcome likely to have significant implications for the balance of power in the Senate.
According to Fox News, the race is shaping up to be a pivotal battleground in the national political landscape.