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 H.W. 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. 

2026 North Carolina General Election

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. Said the bill would strengthen Medicaid and SNAP by removing recipients who "should not be on the programs, including illegal immigrants."

- Supported a bill signed into law by President Trump that cut tax rates and reduced funding for food stamps. Said the bill would strengthen Medicaid and SNAP by removing recipients who "should not be on the programs, including illegal immigrants."

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."

Opposed Governor Cooper's expansion of cashless bail and pre-trial release, saying it "[created]  revolving door that allowed repeat offenders to walk free without fear of jail time."

Opposes policies that limit access to guns.

- 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."
- Opposed Governor Cooper's expansion of cashless bail and pre-trial release, saying it "[created]  revolving door that allowed repeat offenders to walk free without fear of jail time."
- Opposes policies that limit access to guns.

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

Supports keeping "radical woke ideology out of schools."

- Supports keeping "radical woke ideology out of schools."

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.
- Supports American energy independence.

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).

Said "I am committed to advancing President Trump’s America First agenda."

- 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).
- Said "I am committed to advancing President Trump’s America First agenda."

Foreign Policy and Immigration

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

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

Michael Whatley on the SAVE Act

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."

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.

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.

- 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."
- 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.
- 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

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

Ethics & Conduct

LinkedIn

Twitter

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Michael Whatley

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.

- 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.
- 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.

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. 

- 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."

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

- 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).

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.

Buket Urgen

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. Whatley 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, as senior official in the George Bush administration, and as a partner at the lobbying firm HBW Resources. He and his wife, Suzanne, live in Gaston County. They have three children. 

Michael Dublin

Roy Cooper

Shannon W. Bray

- 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.

One of two federal lawmakers representing North Carolina in the U.S. Senate.