Whatley

Michael Whatley reaffirmed his backing for tariffs, the war with Iran, and tax cuts, according to WRAL. The comments signal that he is sticking with core Republican positions on trade, foreign policy and fiscal policy, and they are drawing attention as voters and commentators weigh the political cost of those stances.

A new Catawba poll for the 2026 election shows Cooper leading Whatley by 12 percentage points. The survey offers an early snapshot of the race, with a sizable gap between the two candidates well ahead of the vote.