Sen. Elizabeth Dole, a Republican who represented North Carolina in Congress, also never ran for public office before being elected in 2002. Whatley served as her chief of staff for one of her six years in the chamber.

Big news is expected out of Gastonia this Thursday, as Republican leader Michael Whatley is set to make a major announcement.

A new Victory Insights poll of the North Carolina Senate election points to a close race between former Governor Roy Cooper and Republican National Committee (RNC) chair Michael Whatley, while an Emerson College poll gives Cooper a lead in what is likely to be one of the most competitive of the 2026 midterms.