Whatley touts affordability message during campaign stop in Zebulon
ZEBULON, N.C. (WTVD) -- Republican U.S. Senate candidate Michael Whatley met with voters on Wednesday in Wake County, focusing on rising costs and affordability as the 2026 race intensifies in North Carolina.
Whatley held a roundtable discussion at Smash Masters Tavern and Grill, where he spoke with business owners, students, and other voters about how higher prices are affecting daily life. Participants cited increased costs for gas, housing, and food, along with challenges in saving money.
"I want you to take home more money, and I want you to keep more money," Whatley said.
Younger voters, including college students and those preparing to graduate, said they are feeling the strain of inflation.
"The gas prices are up. Inflation, housing looks rough," said Eric Cantrell, a Greensboro college student.
The discussion centered in part on a federal policy enacted last year eliminating taxes on tips and overtime under the "One Big Beautiful Bill." Whatley said he supports measures aimed at lowering tax burdens and boosting take-home pay.
"People want to take home more money. They want to keep more money, right? And so, we want here in Wake and everywhere else to have them focus on what we're going to do to make sure that their tax burden is low," Whatley said.
Business owners at the restaurant described the ripple effects of rising costs across their operations.
"Buy the food, pay for the gas, pay for the people to cook the food, pay for the lights, and the people to sit here. And they don't put that into perspective when they walk in the door. When the cost goes up, everything goes up, and it affects us tremendously as a small business," said co-owner Robert Thompson.
Co-owner Jessica Thompson said pricing pressures are already affecting customer behavior.
"We can only charge so much for a burger," she said. "We already have people walking in looking at prices, and sometimes walking out because it's a burger."
Whatley also said he believes his economic approach could appeal to voters across party lines, even in heavily Democratic Wake County. He criticized former Gov. Roy Cooper, his opponent, over his tax record.
"Roy Cooper has a history of, of raising taxes as a legislator," Whatley said.
Cooper's campaign pushed back in a statement, saying, "Roy Cooper cut taxes for working families and is running for the U.S. Senate to make stuff cost less. (...) Michael Whatley helped lead the charge to double health care premiums, made millions lobbying for big utility companies, including Duke Energy, as North Carolinians' electric bills went through the roof, and spent his career delivering for corporations and special interests at the expense of North Carolina families."
ABC11 asked Whatley about proposed Duke Energy rate hikes.
"Roy Cooper has really raised rates 30% over the course of his term as governor. And we need to make sure that we're going to have policies for affordable, reliable electricity," said Whatley.
In response, Cooper's campaign said, "Michael Whatley -- the Duke Energy shareholder who also lobbied for them -- got rich while North Carolinians paid more, and now he refuses to denounce rate hikes that pad his bank account. Roy Cooper challenged rate hikes, held utility companies accountable, and is running to make stuff cost less for working families."
Affordability remained the dominant focus of the event, with voters and the candidate alike pointing to rising costs as a central issue in the Senate race.
