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Michael Whatley news
Archived — this story has rotated out of today’s deck. It is kept here in full.
The gist
Michael Whatley, GOP Senate candidate in NC, rallies on public safety. He trails Roy Cooper by 11 points in polls.
Background
Michael Whatley, former Republican National Committee chairman, is running for U.S. Senate in North Carolina against Democrat Roy Cooper. The race has intensified as Whatley emphasizes public safety and crime, while Cooper's campaign and fact-checkers accuse Whatley of using misleading attacks. Recent polls show Cooper leading by 11 percentage points.
How it unfolded
- Sep 2, 2026Republicans run an ad tying Cooper to a South Carolina homicide, but fact-checkers note the suspect is from SC, not NC.
- Sep 3, 2026Whatley holds a 'Restoring Law and Order' news conference in Fayetteville, promoting police endorsements and warning about public safety threats.
- Sep 3, 2026Whatley details his pitch to Jewish voters in Las Vegas, emphasizing support for Israel and criticizing Cooper's record.
- Sep 4, 2026FactCheck.org reports an ad using Whatley's own dated comments on inflation, noting his claims were made before the Iran war and tariffs.
Who’s saying what
- Whatley Campaign
- Whatley supports policies that allow working families to earn more and keep more, and he is tough on crime.
- Cooper Campaign
- Whatley is desperate and using heinous crimes to deceive North Carolinians; Cooper has a record of putting violent criminals behind bars.
- Fact-checkers
- Whatley's attacks on Cooper's crime record have been called false by independent fact-checkers.
Still unverified
Claims about Cooper hosting an imam with extremist ties at a 2018 Iftar dinner are based on a Washington Free Beacon report and disputed by Cooper's campaign.