Michele Morrow enters NC GOP Senate primary against Trump endorsed Michael Whatley
NORTH CAROLINA (WTVD) -- Republican Michele Morrow has announced her bid to enter North Carolina's primary for U.S. Senate. She announced on Thursday after officially filing her candidacy.
Morrow will be challenging Trump-backed Michael Whatley, who previously served as the chair for the Republican National Committee and the NC Republican Party.
Whatley announced his bid to run in July.
The Senate seat came up for grabs after Thom Tillis announced in June he would not seek reelection. This came after he voted against Trump's mega-spending bill over the summer.
Morrow previously lost the state superintendent race to Maurice "Mo" Greene in 2024. The race drew national attention after reports surfaced of past social media posts, with some alleging she called for violence if she lost. Morrow has denied these claims.
According to our newsgathering partner, News& Observer, she previously called for the execution of high-profile Democrats, including former Presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden. Also, in a video recorded on Jan. 6, 2021, Morrow called for Trump to use the military to stay in power after he lost the 2020 election. She also protested outside the U.S. Capitol on the day of the insurrection, but said she never entered the building. Morrow campaigned frequently on her opposition to LGBTQ rights, once falsely claiming that the + in LGBTQ+ stands for pedophilia.
Dates to know for North Carolina's 2026 elections
North Carolina will hold its primary election on March 3, 2026, and general election on Nov. 3, 2026.
- Jan. 12, 2026: County boards of elections begin mailing absentee ballots to eligible voters who submitted an absentee ballot request form
- Feb. 6, 2026: Voter registration deadline
- Feb. 12, 2026: In-person early voting begins
- Feb. 17, 2026: Absentee ballot request deadline
- Feb. 28, 2026: In-person early voting ends
- March 3, 2026: Primary Election Day
- March 3, 2026: Absentee ballot return deadline
