Michael Whatley

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Wikipedia

Michael Whatley
Whatley in 2025
66th Chair of the Republican National Committee
Incumbent
Assumed office
March 8, 2024
Preceded byRonna McDaniel
Chair of the North Carolina Republican Party
In office
June 8, 2019 – March 8, 2024
Preceded byRobin Hayes
Succeeded byJason Simmons
Personal details
Born1968 or 1969 (age 56–57)
North Carolina, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
EducationUniversity of North Carolina, Charlotte (BA)
Wake Forest University (MA)
University of Notre Dame (MA, JD)

Michael Whatley (born 1968 or 1969)[1] is an American politician and lawyer who has served as the 66th chairman of the Republican National Committee (RNC) since March 2024. He previously served as chair of the North Carolina Republican Party from 2019 to 2024, the last year of which he also served as the RNC's general counsel.

Born and raised in Western North Carolina, Whatley earned bachelor's degree from the University of North Carolina, Charlotte, a master's degree from Wake Forest University, and a second master's and a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Notre Dame. After working on the presidential campaign of George W. Bush in 2000, he served in the U.S. Department of Energy during the Bush administration. In 2004, he became chief of staff to Senator Elizabeth Dole, serving until 2007. In 2019, Whatley was elected chair of the Republican Party of North Carolina, serving until his election as RNC Chair in 2024.

In July 2025, Whatley announced his candidacy for the United States Senate in 2026. He is due to depart the RNC at its summer meeting in Atlanta held from August 18 to August 22.[2]

Early life and education

Whatley is from Watauga County, North Carolina. He graduated from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte with a bachelor's degree in history in 1991 and from Wake Forest University with a master's degree in religion in 1993. He then earned a master's degree in theology in 1994 and a Juris Doctor degree in 1997 from the University of Notre Dame.[3]

Whatley began working in Republican Party politics when he volunteered on the 1984 reelection campaign of U.S. senator Jesse Helms while he was a sophomore at Watauga High School.[4]

Political career

White House and Capitol Hill

In 2000, Whatley was a member of George W. Bush's team pursuing the Florida recount. During Bush's presidency, Whatley served in the United States Department of Energy as deputy assistant secretary.[5] In 2004, he became chief of staff for U.S. Senator Elizabeth Dole, replacing Frank Hill.[5][6] In 2007, Whatley became a partner at lobbying firm HBW Resources, and in 2008 he became executive vice president for the Consumer Energy Alliance; he held the position until 2019.[7][8] In 2016, Whatley helped Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump campaign and organize rallies in North Carolina.[7]

North Carolina Republican Party Chair

In June 2019, the North Carolina Republican Party selected Whatley to succeed Robin Hayes as their chair.[9][10] Whatley was closely involved in President Donald Trump's efforts to overturn the result of the 2020 presidential election, including participating in the December 2020 phone call on which Trump urged Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger to "find" the votes he needed to win the state.[11]

Following the United States Capitol attack on January 6, 2021, Whatley refused to blame Trump, saying that only those who participated in the riots bear responsibility.[12][13] In February 2021, Whatley said, "We certainly saw evidence of voting irregularities, of election counting irregularities in a number of places around the country", and that the reason Trump won North Carolina was his state party's vigilance against Democrats' attempts to cheat.[14] Also in February 2021, the state party voted unanimously to censure Senator Richard Burr for voting to convict President Trump during his second impeachment.[15]

Republican National Committee Chair

The Republican National Committee appointed Whatley as its general counsel in February 2023.[16] In February 2024, Donald Trump endorsed Whatley to replace Ronna McDaniel as chair of the RNC.[17] In March 2024, Whatley was elected as the new chair of the RNC, along with Lara Trump as his co-chair.[18][19] Per the North Carolina party's 2022 plan of organization, its vice chair (Susan Mills) served as state chair until a successor was elected.[20][21] During his tenure as chair of the RNC the Republican party won the presidency as well as a U.S. Senate and House majority in the 2024 United States elections.

In January 2025, Whatley was reelected as chair of the RNC.[22]

2026 United States Senate race

On July 24, 2025, press reports announced that Whatley would run for U.S. Senate with President Trump's support.[23][24] It is expected that he will vacate his position as chair of the RNC while running for the Senate seat.[25]

References

  1. ↑ Coleman, Dashiell (June 14, 2019). "Gastonia's Whatley says GOP will focus on 2020". Gaston Gazette. Retrieved February 6, 2024.
  2. ↑ Fineout, Gary (August 5, 2025). "With Trump's support, Gruters path to lead RNC moving smoothly". Politico. Retrieved August 6, 2025.
  3. ↑ Poteat, Bill (June 14, 2021). "Gastonia's GOP State Chairman Michael Whatley excited as party builds toward 2022 election". Gaston Gazette. Retrieved May 30, 2025.
  4. ↑ Moss, Bill (July 27, 2019). "Henderson County Four Seasons Politics: Republican chair declares North Carolina key to Trump re-election – Hendersonville Lightning". Hendersonville Lightning. Retrieved March 8, 2024.
  5. 1 2 Washington lawyer Dole's chief of staff. The News and Observer. January 15, 2004. Retrieved August 9, 2024.
  6. ↑ Coleman, Dashiell (June 7, 2019). "Gaston Republican in running for state GOP role". Gaston Gazette. Retrieved March 8, 2024.
  7. 1 2 Morrill, Jim; Pogarcic, Anna (June 10, 2019). NC's new GOP chair Whatley calls for a 'reset'. The Charlotte Observer. p.2. Retrieved August 9, 2024.
  8. ↑ Cama, Timothy (March 8, 2024). "Republicans tap former oil lobbyist for national chair". E&E News. Retrieved March 8, 2024.
  9. ↑ "North Carolina Republicans pick Whatley as state party head". AP News. June 9, 2019. Retrieved March 8, 2024.
  10. ↑ Morrill, Jim; Pogarcic, Anna (June 9, 2019). "Michael Whatley elected new chair of NC Republican Party, calls for a 'reset'". Charlotte Observer. Retrieved March 8, 2024.
  11. ↑ Roth, Zachary (February 13, 2024). "Trump's pick for RNC chief worked with top election denier's group". Colorado Newsline. Retrieved March 8, 2024.
  12. ↑ Greenwood, Max (February 16, 2021). "North Carolina GOP chair: Fault lies with rioters, not Trump". The Hill. Retrieved March 8, 2024.
  13. ↑ Kaczynski, Andrew; Steck, Em (February 9, 2024). "Likely frontrunner for RNC chair parroted Trump's election lies after 2020 and has suggested Jan 6. rioters weren't 'Republican voters'". Politics. CNN. Retrieved March 8, 2024.
  14. ↑ Joseph, Cameron (May 19, 2021). "Pro-Trump Conspiracy Theorists Are Taking Over State Republican Parties". Vice. Retrieved March 8, 2024.
  15. ↑ "North Carolina GOP censures Sen. Burr for impeachment vote". NBC News. Raleigh, North Carolina. February 16, 2021. Retrieved February 7, 2024.
  16. ↑ "Whatley tapped for national RNC leadership role". Carolina Journal -. February 28, 2023.
  17. ↑ Ibssa, Lalee (February 12, 2024). "Trump endorses Michael Whatley as RNC chair, Lara Trump as co-chair". ABC News. Retrieved February 13, 2024.
  18. ↑ Samuels, Brett (March 8, 2024). "RNC elects Michael Whatley, Lara Trump as new leaders". The Hill. Retrieved March 8, 2024.
  19. ↑ "Trump's grip on RNC tightens as Michael Whatley and Lara Trump become new leaders". The Independent. March 8, 2024. Retrieved March 8, 2024.
  20. ↑ "2022 Plan of Organization" (PDF). North Carolina Republican Party. March 5, 2023. p. 19. Retrieved March 10, 2024.
  21. ↑ "2023 North Carolina Republican Party State Convention". Polk County Republican Party, North Carolina. June 14, 2023. Retrieved March 10, 2024. Susan Mills will continue to serve as Vice Chair.
  22. ↑ Allison, Natalie (January 17, 2025). "Michael Whatley reelected RNC chair". Politico. Retrieved February 7, 2025.
  23. ↑ "RNC chair Michael Whatley to run for Senate in North Carolina with Trump's support". POLITICO. July 24, 2025. Retrieved July 24, 2025.
  24. ↑ Goldmacher, Shane; Haberman, Maggie (July 24, 2025). "Michael Whatley, R.N.C. Chairman, to Run for Senate in North Carolina". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved July 24, 2025.
  25. ↑ https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/5419624-trump-backs-joe-gruters-of-florida-as-next-rnc-chair/
Party political offices
Preceded by
Aubrey Woodard
Acting
 Chair of the North Carolina Republican Party
2019–2024		 Succeeded by
Susan Mills
Acting
Preceded by Chair of the Republican National Committee
2024–present		 Succeeded by
TBD