Michael Whatley

Michael Whatley was raised in Blowing Rock, North Carolina, and graduated from Watauga High School. 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. He was a federal law clerk in Charlotte, chief of staff to U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Dole and a senior official at the U.S. Department of Energy. After the 2016 election he led the presidential transition's energy, environment and agriculture teams. He served as chairman of the North Carolina Republican Party and, at President Donald Trump's request, as chairman of the Republican National Committee for the 2024 cycle. He lives in Gaston County. Whatley had not run for office before announcing his U.S. Senate campaign in Gastonia on July 31, 2025, for the seat being vacated by Sen. Thom Tillis. He won the March 3, 2026 Republican primary against six other candidates and faces former Gov. Roy Cooper on November 3.