Michael Whatley, chairman of the national Republican Party, plans to run for an open Senate seat in North Carolina in 2026, with the blessing of President Donald Trump, after Trump’s daughter-in-law, Lara, passed on the seat. Democrats see the race as their top chance to flip a seat as they try to regain control of the Senate. Republican Sen. Thom Tillis announced last month that he wouldn’t run for a third term, a decision that came after clashes with Trump. Whatley’s decision was confirmed by two people familiar with his thinking. They weren’t authorized to discuss the matter publicly before an official announcement and spoke only on condition of anonymity.… Continue Reading
