Michael Whatley speaks out on conservatism’s future as 2026 nears

All 100 North Carolina counties are on the calendar for Michael Whatley, who is running for an open Senate seat as the GOP seeks to course-correct after 2025 defeats.

Whatley, the former chairman of the Republican National Committee, is facing former Gov. Roy Cooper in a bid to succeed Sen. Thom Tillis, a two-term Republican who decided not to run for office.

Whatley joined President Donald Trump in Rocky Mount Friday evening, just before flying to Phoenix to speak at AmericaFest. Republicans are also seeking to flip the state’s 1st Congressional District, which currently includes the famous Interstate 95 waypoint.

Whatley said the reception at the rally and across the state has been “absolutely fantastic” and that it is important for any candidate to travel to every corner of a large and 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 compared to what the Democrats are doing,” he said.

“You know, we won when we focused on the issues that the American people cared about, right? President Trump said he would rebuild our economy, restore our borders, and ensure America is respected around the world again.”

“The Democrats have presented exactly the opposite: inflationary spending, open borders, and a weak America. So we’re very happy with where we stand as a conservative movement. And we’re very happy with our ability to win this election as long as we focus on what voters care about.”

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Asked about Republicans’ failure in last November’s key election, Whatley said his answer would be to stay focused on the issues that matter to the people of the Tarheel State.

“We have an agenda focused on creating jobs, raising wages and lowering prices. We must focus on the safety of our children and our communities,” he said.

“And we must ensure our North Carolina-based men and women in uniform across the country have what they need to protect our interests and those of our allies around the world.”

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Whatley was also a supporter 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 critical to keeping American communities safe.

Democratic border politics, Whatley said, has turned even North Carolina into a border state — although its westernmost city, Murphy, is 1,300 miles from Mexico.

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“We have many, many violent criminals and illegal aliens in North Carolina. Many of them are arrested. We passed a law through the North Carolina General Assembly requiring sheriffs to honor ICE detainers and deport these criminals,” he said.

“I’m very happy that President Trump is here to make sure that we take these types of violent, illegal criminal aliens off the streets.”

Fox News’ Olivia Palumbo contributed to this report.