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Former Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Whatley is winning big so far in his run for U.S. Senate in North Carolina, raking in a record-setting $5.1 million in the fourth quarter of 2025, his campaign has announced.
In a press release, the campaign highlighted this achievement, additionally noting Whatley’s impressive $6 million haul within the first two months of his Senate run last year, “the highest figure of any Republican Senate candidate or incumbent in America.”
His total cycle-to-date campaign fundraising has hit $11 million in five months.
“The support for our campaign is a clear rebuke of Roy Cooper’s liberal agenda,” said Michael Whatley in a statement.
He continued, “North Carolinians are tired of his soft-on-crime policies, his sanctuary city agenda, his failures on public safety, and his loyalty to Washington Democrats over the people of this state. In the Senate, I will be a true America First partner to President Trump and deliver real results for North Carolina families.”
Roy Cooper is the former Democratic governor of North Carolina. He recently launched a U.S. Senate bid for Republican North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis’s open Senate seat and is expected to go head-to-head with Whatley this year.
As reported by RSBN, Sen. Thom Tillis announced last year that he would not be seeking a third term, leaving his seat open for another candidate to claim.
At the time, President Trump stated, “Numerous people have come forward wanting to run in the Primary against ‘Senator Thom’ Tillis. I will be meeting with them over the coming weeks, looking for someone who will properly represent the Great People of North Carolina and, so importantly, the United States of America.”
The president’s daughter-in-law, Lara Trump, was one of the high-profile individuals considering running for the seat, but she ultimately declined.
“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,” Ms. Trump said in a statement last summer. “I am deeply grateful for the encouragement and support I have received from the people of my home state whom I love so much.”
Lara Trump previously served as the co-chair of the RNC alongside then-Chairman Michael Whatley.
Mr. Whatley has received the president’s full endorsement for his U.S. Senate run this year.
“He is fantastic at everything he does, and he was certainly great at the RNC where, in the Presidential Election, we won every Swing State, the Popular Vote, and the Electoral College by a landslide!” the president said in his endorsement.



