Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Whatley has launched his campaign for North Carolina's open U.S. Senate seat.

The attacks included the campaign of Gov. Roy Cooper, who could end up facing Whatley in the 2026 general election.

A new poll of the North Carolina Senate election points to a close race between former Governor Roy Cooper and Republican National Committee chair Michael Whatley in what is likely to be one of the most competitive of the 2026 midterms. Matt Mercer, a North Carolina GOP spokesperson, told Newsweek that the poll should be "alarming for Democrats ."