North Carolina 2026 Senate Race Begins to Take Shape, and Things Are About to Get Really Interesting

There had been chatter for some time among North Carolina conservatives about primarying Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) in 2026. So his June announcement that he would not seek a third term - and President Trump's approval of the decision - prompted excitement, with speculation running wild as to who might jump into the race to try and replace him.

After the Tillis retirement news, reports swirled that former RNC co-chair Lara Lea Trump was contemplating throwing her hat into the ring, considering her Wilmington and Wrightsville Beach roots.

Donald Trump himself publicly stated in response to the rumors that he felt his daughter-in-law, who is now the host of a weekend program on Fox News, would be a "great" choice for the Senate seat. "[She] would always be my first choice, but she doesn’t live there now," he also noted.

On Thursday, however, Mrs. Trump revealed she would not be running for the seat, issuing a statement on X that read in part, "After much consideration and heartfelt discussions with my family, friends, and supporters, I have decided not to pursue the United States Senate seat in North Carolina at this time."

Relatedly, news also broke that President Trump was fully supportive of RNC chairman Michael Whatley, a North Carolina native, in his decision to run, something that reportedly will be officially announced in the coming days:

Republican National Committee chair Michael Whatley will run for Senate in North Carolina and will have the blessing of President Donald Trump after his daughter-in-law, Lara Trump, opted not to seek the seat, two people familiar with the decision told POLITICO.
[...]
Trump is optimistic that Whatley, who ran the state party in North Carolina before becoming RNC chair, has the knowledge of the state, the national profile and the network of relationships to mount a strong campaign to replace Tillis, who announced his retirement last month after opposing the sweeping domestic policy agenda bill backed by the president.
[...]
Republicans believe Whatley’s connections with donors will be an asset in what will likely be one of the most expensive races in next year’s elections.

As then-NCGOP chairman, Whatley was also instrumental in the North Carolina statewide red wave of 2022, when the national red wave that had been widely predicted fell far short of expectations.

News of Whatley's impending announcement comes on the heels of reports that former NC Gov. Roy Cooper (D) is himself gearing up for a Senate run:

Roy Cooper, the Democratic former governor of North Carolina, is planning to announce a run for Senate as early as next week, giving Democrats a significant boost in one of the key races of 2026, according to two people briefed on the decision.
[...]
The open North Carolina Senate seat is essential for Democrats if the party is to have any chance to take control of the chamber after the 2026 midterms. Party leaders had pushed for Mr. Cooper to enter the race even as former Representative Wiley Nickel had already announced his candidacy.

Though Democrats might think they'll have a walk in the park on this one, Whatley's entry into the race and the knowledge and experience he brings to the table as it relates to North Carolina's history and future needs will ensure a heckuva battle. There is also this:

The kinds of political ads against Cooper we'll see in NC will be unlike anything Cooper has ever experienced.#NCpol #NCSen https://t.co/WmlgtXyJyM
— Pete Kaliner (@PeteKaliner) July 23, 2025

Yep. Thanks to a dutifully compliant left-wing NC political press corps, Cooper got away with a lot during his two terms as governor here. However, suffice it to say that much tea will be spilled about his reign of error in the coming months as the race heats up.

Stay tuned.

Editor's Note: President Trump is leading America into the "Golden Age" as Democrats try desperately to stop it.

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