From the Daily Caller: Republican North Carolina Senate candidate Michael Whatley raised $5.1 million in the final quarter of 2025, adding to his campaign war chest for a likely matchup with former Democratic North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper in November’s midterm elections.
The fundraising report, obtained exclusively by the Daily Caller News Foundation, comes after Whatley reported a record-breaking $6 million haul in 2025’s third quarter, totaling $11 million in the first five months of the campaign. Whatley, former Republican National Committee (RNC) chairman and close ally of President Donald Trump — who endorsed his candidacy — is touting the fundraising numbers as evidence of his ability to keep pace with Cooper in what is expected to be the costliest Senate race in history.
“The support for our campaign is a clear rebuke of Roy Cooper’s liberal agenda,” Whatley said in a statement.
Whatley continued to blast Cooper over accusations the ex-governor supported lenient crime policies and “sanctuary” policies protecting criminal illegal migrants, the former RNC chief argues made the Tar Heel State less safe.
However, the report notes that Cooper raised $14.5 million in the third fundraising quarter, from July to September. He has not yet released his fundraising numbers for the 4th quarter of 2025.
Whatley and Cooper are expected to face off in the general election in the battle for the Senate seat being vacated by retiring Republican North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis. Democrats are trying to flip the seat to blue in their effort to take back the majority.
Whatley has been endorsed by President Trump, as well as Turning Point USA.
Earlier this month, it was announced that Republicans have now officially surpassed Democrats in North Carolina voter registration for the first time in the state’s history.
Whatley has been pounding on Cooper over his far-left policies.
On January 9, he wrote, “As governor, Roy Cooper put illegal aliens before law abiding North Carolinians. Cooper attacked ICE and favored sanctuary city policies like giving illegal aliens truck licenses—putting unqualified drivers who don’t know our roads behind the wheel of massive trucks.”
As governor, Roy Cooper put illegal aliens before law abiding North Carolinians.
Cooper attacked ICE and favored sanctuary city policies like giving illegal aliens truck licenses—putting unqualified drivers who don’t know our roads behind the wheel of massive trucks.…
— Whatley War Room (@whatleywarroom) January 9, 2026
In another post, Whatley wrote, “An audit from @SecDuffy revealed that under Democrat rule, 54% of North Carolina’s trucking licensees issued to foreigners were illegal—putting unqualified drivers who don’t know our roads behind the wheel of massive trucks. This failure began with Roy Cooper, whose anti-ICE, sanctuary-city agenda put criminal illegal aliens ahead of law-abiding North Carolinians and public safety.”
An audit from @SecDuffy revealed that under Democrat rule, 54% of North Carolina’s trucking licensees issued to foreigners were illegal—putting unqualified drivers who don’t know our roads behind the wheel of massive trucks.
This failure began with Roy Cooper, whose anti-ICE,…
— Michael Whatley (@WhatleyNC) January 9, 2026
READ MORE from the Daily Caller.
POLITICO: Michael Whatley (R-NC) has raised $5.1M in Q4. He’s raised $11M since launching. pic.twitter.com/V6sS4U1KkB
— InteractivePolls (@IAPolls2022) January 12, 2026
“Whatley continues to blast Roy Cooper over accusations the ex-governor supported lenient crime policies and “sanctuary” policies protecting criminal illegal migrants, that have made the Tar Heel State less safe.”https://t.co/29y6AtY1iv
— Whatley War Room (@whatleywarroom) January 12, 2026
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