Michael Whatley is from Blowing Rock, North Carolina. He has a bachelor's degree in history from the University of North Carolina, a master's degree in religion from Wake Forest University, a master's degree in theology from the University of Notre Dame, and a law degree from Notre Dame Law School. He and his wife, Suzanne, live in Gaston County. They have three children.

Michael Whatley - Ballotpedia

Michael previously served as the chairman of the republican National Committee and chair of the North Carolina Republican Party. He has also worked as chief of staff to Senator Elizabeth Dole, a senior official in the George Bush administration, and a federal law clerk. 

Michael previously served as the chair of the North Carolina Republican Party.

This is Michael's first time running for public office. 

RNC chair says 'big, beautiful bill' key part of GOP's strategy to win seats in midterm elections

'Big, beautiful bill' will make US economy stronger: Republican National Committee Chair

Supported a bill signed into law by President Trump that cut tax rates and reduced funding for food stamps.

- Supported a bill signed into law by President Trump that cut tax rates and reduced funding for food stamps.

Economy

Facebook

Opposes defunding the police and stated, "I will always Back the Blue and fight to ensure they have the support that they need to protect our communities."

- Opposes defunding the police and stated, "I will always Back the Blue and fight to ensure they have the support that they need to protect our communities."

Public Safety

Opposes abortion, but supports prenatal care, birth control, and in vitro fertilization.

Supported a bill signed into law by President Trump that added partial work requirements for Medicaid coverage.

- Opposes abortion, but supports prenatal care, birth control, and in vitro fertilization.
- Supported a bill signed into law by President Trump that added partial work requirements for Medicaid coverage.

Healthcare

As of April 6, 2026, Michael Whatley’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Education

Republican’s oil ties a focus in North Carolina Senate race

Has previously lobbied for offshore drilling and against regulations on fracking, power plant emissions, and auto efficiency.

- Has previously lobbied for offshore drilling and against regulations on fracking, power plant emissions, and auto efficiency.

Energy & the Environment

Whatley running on strong economy, safe communities, respected America

Illegal Immigrant Crime Could Tip The Scales In North Carolina’s Crucial Senate Race

Supported a bill signed into law by President Trump, which gives billions of dollars for border security and immigration enforcement.

Opposes sanctuary cities, which prohibit local police officers from working with immigration officers.

Supports deporting "violent, criminal, illegal aliens."

Supports local cooperation between Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

- Supported a bill signed into law by President Trump, which gives billions of dollars for border security and immigration enforcement.
- Opposes sanctuary cities, which prohibit local police officers from working with immigration officers.
- Supports deporting "violent, criminal, illegal aliens."
- Supports local cooperation between Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

Foreign Policy and Immigration

As Trump continues to remake RNC in his image, new memo outlines what that looks like

New RNC zeroes in on 'election integrity,' hires Trump ally who denied 2020 results

Michael Whatley on the SAVE Act

Advocates for "an aggressive, proactive effort to ensure that it will be easy to vote and hard to cheat."

Supports expanding early voting efforts, "ballot harvesting where legal," and absentee and mail-in ballot programs.

Stated, "We must build and activate the most effective election integrity program that has ever existed to safeguard our elections... Every tool that the other side has used, we need to wield for ourselves."

Supports voter ID requirements, believes only American citizens should vote, wants states to "clean up the voter rolls," and urges for "basic protections" for mail in ballots.

- Advocates for "an aggressive, proactive effort to ensure that it will be easy to vote and hard to cheat."
- Supports expanding early voting efforts, "ballot harvesting where legal," and absentee and mail-in ballot programs.
- Stated, "We must build and activate the most effective election integrity program that has ever existed to safeguard our elections... Every tool that the other side has used, we need to wield for ourselves."
- Supports voter ID requirements, believes only American citizens should vote, wants states to "clean up the voter rolls," and urges for "basic protections" for mail in ballots.

Voting & Elections

Ethics & Conduct

LinkedIn

Twitter

Instagram

Michael Whatley

Buket Urgen

National Governors Association | Roy Cooper

North Carolina Foundation for Public School Children | Roy Cooper

Roy Cooper is originally from Nashville, in Nash County, North Carolina. He earned his bachelor's degree and law degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Roy previously served as a deacon and elder at White Memorial Presbyterian Church. He lives with his wife, Kristin, and they have 3 daughters.

Former Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper announces run for Senate in ...

Roy previously served as the governor of North Carolina. He was first elected in 2016 and served 2 terms through 2024. He also served as North Carolina attorney general from 2001 to 2017, serving 4 consecutive terms. He served in the North Carolina Senate from 1991 to 2001, where he was majority leader, and in the North Carolina House of Representatives from 1987 to 1991.

Roy previously worked as an attorney at the law firm Fields, Cooper & Henderson.

WRAL | Cooper, seeking NCs open US Senate seat, tackles health care cuts in Raleigh speech

Says he is running for Senate to fight for the middle class against corporations and the wealthy.

Opposes the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, saying it gives tax breaks to the wealthy while cutting healthcare for working families.

- Says he is running for Senate to fight for the middle class against corporations and the wealthy.
- Opposes the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, saying it gives tax breaks to the wealthy while cutting healthcare for working families.

North Carolina Hospitals Sign On to Relieve Medical Debt | NC ...

Roy Cooper officially enters race for U.S. Senate | WUNC

As governor, created the Office of Violence Prevention and said, "We can help break these devastating cycles of violence by investing in our communities, taking some common sense gun violence prevention measures, and strengthening partnerships between law enforcement and the people they serve."

As governor, signed bipartisan legislation mandating officers receive psychological screenings and training on ethics, the use of force, and "minority sensitivity."

- As governor, created the Office of Violence Prevention and said, "We can help break these devastating cycles of violence by investing in our communities, taking some common sense gun violence prevention measures, and strengthening partnerships between law enforcement and the people they serve."
- As governor, signed bipartisan legislation mandating officers receive psychological screenings and training on ethics, the use of force, and "minority sensitivity."

Opposes federal cuts that could remove Medicaid coverage from approximately 670,000 residents.

Supports abortion access, opposing restrictions he has called "dangerous interference with the doctor-patient relationship."

- Opposes federal cuts that could remove Medicaid coverage from approximately 670,000 residents.
- Supports abortion access, opposing restrictions he has called "dangerous interference with the doctor-patient relationship."

NC races for key high court, US Senate seats take shape as ...

Supports increased investment in public schools and raising teacher pay.

Opposes taxpayer-funded private school vouchers, saying public education should be prioritized over private school funding.

- Supports increased investment in public schools and raising teacher pay.
- Opposes taxpayer-funded private school vouchers, saying public education should be prioritized over private school funding.

NC League of Conservation Voters | Roy Cooper Announces Senate Bid

League of Conservation Voters | LCV Action Fund Endorses Roy Cooper for US Senate

Supports policies addressing climate change, including reducing greenhouse gas emissions and developing offshore wind energy.

Supports expanding clean energy jobs, particularly in rural communities.

- Supports policies addressing climate change, including reducing greenhouse gas emissions and developing offshore wind energy.
- Supports expanding clean energy jobs, particularly in rural communities.

Governor Roy Cooper Vetoes HB10

Called for an immediate Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Border Patrol reform as a condition for additional funding.

Said, “The federal government should deport violent criminals, but instead they have killed American citizens," in response to the Minnesota shootings. 

As governor, vetoed a bill that required all sheriffs in the state to cooperate with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to prevent diversion of public school funds.

- Called for an immediate Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Border Patrol reform as a condition for additional funding.
- Said, “The federal government should deport violent criminals, but instead they have killed American citizens," in response to the Minnesota shootings. 
- As governor, vetoed a bill that required all sheriffs in the state to cooperate with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to prevent diversion of public school funds.

As of April 6, 2026, Roy Cooper’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Roy Cooper

Shannon Bray - Ballotpedia

Shannon Bray is from Marrero, Louisiana. He has an associate's degree from Arapahoe Community College, a bachelor's degree from Colorado State University, and a graduate degree from the University of Delaware. He lives in Apex, North Carolina, with his wife, Stephanie, and his three children. 

Shannon is a cybersecurity professional and a Navy veteran.

Shannon is currently a member of the Libertarian Party.

Shannon previously ran for lieutenant governor in 2024, U.S. senator in 2022 and 2020, and U.S. House in 2019, but did not win. 

Supports simplifying the tax code to reward work and productivity.

Said, "Ending corporate handouts and special-interest loopholes"

Said, "Ending corporate handouts and special-interest loopholes."

Said, "Capping federal spending to slow debt growth"

Said, "Capping federal spending to slow debt growth."

- Supports simplifying the tax code to reward work and productivity.
- Said, "Ending corporate handouts and special-interest loopholes."
- Said, "Capping federal spending to slow debt growth."

Supports reducing mandatory minimums for nonviolent offenses.

Supports rehabilitation and accountability in the criminal justice system.

Opposes policies that limit access to firearms. 

- Supports reducing mandatory minimums for nonviolent offenses.
- Supports rehabilitation and accountability in the criminal justice system.
- Opposes policies that limit access to firearms. 

Said, "Repealing top-down federal healthcare mandates"

Supports repealing federal healthcare mandates and advocates for state-led healthcare solutions.

Said, "Expanding Health Savings Accounts (HSAs)"

Supports expanding Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) and increasing price transparency.

- Supports repealing federal healthcare mandates and advocates for state-led healthcare solutions.
- Supports expanding Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) and increasing price transparency.

Said, "Reducing federal control over education"

Supports reducing federal control over education and advocates for parental and local decision-making. 

Said, "Supporting skills-based and technical training"

Supporting skills-based and technical training in schools.

Said, "Promoting innovation in education"

Supports "promoting innovation in education."

- Supports reducing federal control over education and advocates for parental and local decision-making. 
- Supporting skills-based and technical training in schools.
- Supports "promoting innovation in education."

Supports nuclear and next-generation energy.

- Opposes carbon taxes.
- Supports nuclear energy generation.

Said, "Requiring congressional authorization for military action"

Supports requiring congressional authorization for military action.

Supports focusing defense spending on military readiness.

- Supports requiring congressional authorization for military action.
- Supports focusing defense spending on military readiness.

Said, "Modernizing election systems responsibly"

Supports modernizing election systems and a secure, auditable voting process.

Supports protecting access to voting without disenfranchisement.

- Supports modernizing election systems and a secure, auditable voting process.
- Supports protecting access to voting without disenfranchisement.

As of January 5, 2026, Shannon W. Bray’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Shannon W. Bray

Youtube

Said, "Restoring fiscal responsibility in Congress"

Said, "Returning appropriate authority to states"

For Candidate Shannon W. Bray on Issue Ethics & Conduct: Advocates for the defense of the Second Amendment.

For Candidate Shannon W. Bray on Issue public-safety:  
Supports ending civil asset forfeiture without a conviction.

Said, "Supporting state-led healthcare solutions"

Said, "Encouraging parental choice and local decision-making"

Said, "Encouraging innovation over mandates"

For Candidate Shannon W. Bray on Issue foreign-policy:  
Aims to end undeclared wars.

Said, "Auditable, secure voting processes"

Supports restoring balance among branches of government.

- The U.S. senator is a member of the United States Senate, the upper house of the United States Congress. There are a total of 100 U.S. senators. North Carolina, like every other US state, has two senators. 
- U.S. senators have a great deal of power when it comes to bringing the concerns of their state to the national arena. U.S. senators can author, sponsor, amend, debate, and vote on bills that may become national law. 
- U.S. senators have an important role in deciding who runs the federal government. They hold confirmation hearings for most presidential appointees, including new Supreme Court justices and presidential cabinet members.
- Senators can be appointed to committees that focus on particular issues. Examples include the Appropriations Committee, which handles budget planning, or the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, which is a diplomatic body that welcomes foreign delegations.
- Senators are elected to six-year terms in statewide elections. U.S. senators are paid a salary of $174,000/year.

North Carolina U.S. Senator

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