North Carolina’s 2026 Senate race is coming into focus as former Gov. Roy Cooper prepares to run and Republican National Committee Chair Michael Whatley, backed by President Donald Trump and GOP leadership,

Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Whatley is expected to run for the Senate in North Carolina, setting up a marquee race in next year’s midterms, two sources familiar with Whatley’s plans tell CNN.

Michael Whatley, a North Carolina native, is leaving his role as chairman of the Republican National Committee to run for Senate. He previously led the state’s Republican Party before Trump picked him to lead the national committee in 2024.