Story perspectives

Trump Backs Michael Whatley as Cooper Leads Polls

By Drooid · Sep 17, 2026, 5:57 AM UTC · How we work

Center

Cooper fundraising edge

U.S. President Donald Trump held a campaign rally in Gastonia, North Carolina, on September 16, 2026, supporting Senate candidate Michael Whatley.
Senator Thom Tillis announced he will not seek reelection, creating an open Senate seat.
Elon University poll week before showed Cooper leading Whatley 49% to 38% among likely voters.
Campaign finance reports listed Whatley with $3.5 million cash on hand versus Cooper’s roughly $21 million.

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Chinese Merchandise Hypocrisy

U.S. President Donald Trump held a campaign rally in Gastonia, North Carolina, on September 16, 2026, supporting Senate candidate Michael Whatley.
Voters criticized Whatley for using Chinese-made campaign merchandise, exposing hypocrisy in his “America First” message.
Trump urged the crowd to “pretend I’m on the ticket” and to “crush the communists.”
Polls indicated Whatley trailed former Governor Roy Cooper by up to 11 percentage points.

History

Historical Context

In 1994 the Republican Revolution, led by Newt Gingrich’s Contract with America, netted 54 House seats and eight Senate seats, giving the GOP its first Senate majority in 40 years. The wave of open-seat races reshaped Southern politics and introduced coordinated national campaigning. In September 2026 Donald Trump campaigned for North Carolina candidate Michael Whatley as Thom Tillis announced retirement, recalling that 1994 pattern.

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Cooper fundraising edge

U.S. President Donald Trump held a campaign rally in Gastonia, North Carolina, on September 16, 2026, supporting Senate candidate Michael Whatley.
Senator Thom Tillis announced he will not seek reelection, creating an open Senate seat.
Elon University poll week before showed Cooper leading Whatley 49% to 38% among likely voters.
Campaign finance reports listed Whatley with $3.5 million cash on hand versus Cooper’s roughly $21 million.

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