Overview
- Former Sen. Thom Tillis’s June 29 announcement leaves North Carolina’s 2026 Senate seat open.
- Lara Trump said she is considering a run and holds the right of first refusal on President Trump’s endorsement, multiple sources tell CNN.
- Other Republican hopefuls, including RNC Chair Michael Whatley, Reps. Pat Harrigan and Richard Hudson, and Brad Knott, are lining up for Trump’s backing if she declines.
- Campaign consultants Stuart Stevens and Jim Messina warned that her close association with President Trump could jeopardize GOP prospects in a swing state.
- North Carolina’s history of single-digit Senate races and Trump’s narrow 2024 victory underscore the importance of candidate appeal in the upcoming contest.