GOP Senate primary challengers to Whatley hope to upset frontrunner

RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) -- North Carolina's Senate race is shaping up at the top of the ticket to be one of the most important and expensive in the country, with control of the chamber at stake.

With Democrats landing their preferred candidate with former Gov. Roy Cooper jumping into the race, Republicans are fighting to maintain the seat after Sen. Thom Tillis decided he would not be seeking re-election.

Republicans haven't lost a U.S. Senate seat in the state since 2008. President Donald Trump and other top GOP leaders quickly rallied behind former RNC Chair Michael Whatley, who, because of his fundraising ability, is considered the frontrunner.

But his two main challengers argue this race isn't over, and say they would be a stronger choice.

Even before Tillis decided not to seek re-election, former Navy JAG Officer Don Brown was already challenging him, and now he says he believes voters are looking for an alternative to Whatley.

"I'm the only vet at the top of the race, No. 1, No. 2, I'm the only prosecutor. I know what it's like to be tough on crime, No. 3, I'm the only one who fought for medical freedom, and No. 4, our campaign has more endorsements than the other campaigns combined. Grassroots; this is we the people vs the establishment, and we the people will prevail," Brown said.

Brown is arguing he'd also be more supportive of the president's agenda.

And so is nurse and conservative activist Michele Morrow, jumping into the Senate race just two years after losing the State Superintendent race in 2024.

"Well, first of all, I'm connected to the people of North Carolina. And it is vitally important that someone that's going to represent them actually has a pulse on what Americans need, what North Carolinians need. And I think that crosses all party boundaries," Morrow said. "I think every person wants safe communities. We want more money in our pockets. We want our children to have opportunities."

Morrow upset a Republican incumbent two years ago. But for some, she has a controversial history, including her presence in Washington, D.C. on Jan. 6, 2021, and for social media posts suggesting former President Barack Obama should be executed.

Primary Election Day is March 3.

Morrow defended her record and argued it won't be a liability in November.

Both Morrow and Brown maintained that they could gain more enthusiasm among the Republican base and unaffiliated voters needed to challenge Cooper, who has never lost an election.

"I will say that Roy Cooper and the Democrat machine have beaten the typical male Republican candidate 13 times. It's time for a wild card. I am a wild card. Roy Cooper himself came after me harder than anyone else in 2024. And they over, they outspent me 18 to 1. And I came within two points," Morrow said.

Brown said, "I'm going to prosecute (Cooper) for his record all across the state, from Manteo to Murphy. I know how to do that. Cooper has never faced a Republican opponent like he will face when he faces me. I know how to hit him. I want to hit him hard. I will expose his record to the people of North Carolina in a way that no other Republican opponent that he has ever had has known how to expose it."

Our newsgathering partners at the News and Observer also endorsed Whatley in the primary, arguing he'd be the strongest candidate for Republicans.

But even that wasn't exactly a ringing endorsement. The N&O said, "Whatley has, thus far, been an uninspiring candidate for Republicans, and the decision to so quickly push him into the race may age poorly."

The newspaper argued that what Whatley does have is fundraising and institutional support, but in the end, Republican primary voters will decide whether to back the frontrunner, or if another option can pull out an upset.

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