Michael Whatley speaks out on conservatism’s future as 2026 nears
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All 100 of North Carolina’s counties are on the schedule for Michael Whatley, who is running for an open Senate seat at a time when the GOP is trying to correct course after losses in 2025.
Whatley, the former Republican National Committee chairman, is facing former Gov. Roy Cooper in a bid to replace two-term Republican Sen. Thom Tillis, who has decided not to run for re-election.
Whatley joined President Donald Trump in Rocky Mount on Friday night, just before flying to Phoenix to speak at AmericaFest. Republicans are also seeking to flip the state’s First Congressional District, which currently includes the Interstate 95 interchange.
Whatley said the reception, both at the rally and statewide, was “absolutely wonderful” and that it’s important for any candidate to travel to every corner of a large, diverse state like North Carolina.
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North Carolina Senate candidate Michael Whatley is seen. (Eva Marie Uzcategui/Getty Images)
“The conservative movement is very, very strong and we have a lot of champions right now, especially when you compare us to what the Democrats are doing,” he said.
“You know, we won when we focused on the issues the American people cared about, right? President Trump said he would rebuild our economy, restore our borders, and restore America’s respect around the world.”
“Democrats advocated the exact opposite: Inflationary spending, open borders, and a weak America. So we feel very good about where we are as a conservative movement. And we feel very good about our ability to win these elections as long as we focus on the things that voters care about.”
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When asked about Republicans falling short in key races last November, Whatley said his response would be to continue focusing on the issues people in the Tarheel State care about.
“We have an agenda that focuses on creating jobs, increasing wages and lowering prices. We must focus on keeping our children and our communities safe,” he said.
“And we must ensure that our men and women in uniform across the country in North Carolina have what they need to protect our interests and allies around the world.”
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Whatley was also a proponent of ICE’s Operation Charlotte’s Web, which targeted criminal illegal aliens in and around Charlotte and Mecklenburg County.
He told Fox News Digital that the issue of immigration is key to keeping communities in America safe.
Democratic border policy has turned even North Carolina into a border state, even though its westernmost town, Murphy, is 2,300 miles from Mexico, Whatley said.
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“There are a lot of violent criminal illegal aliens in North Carolina. Many are being arrested. We had a law passed by the North Carolina General Assembly that required sheriffs to honor ICE detainees and get those criminals out,” he said.
“I’m so glad President Trump is there to make sure we get these types of violent, criminal, illegal aliens off the streets.”
Fox News’ Olivia Palumbo contributed to this report.
