Michael Whatley Fundraises with Controversial Figures for NC Senate Run

North Carolina Senate Candidate Michael Whatley Faces Criticism Over Fundraising Ties

Michael Whatley’s campaign for the U.S. Senate in North Carolina has drawn attention due to his fundraising associations with controversial figures, including individuals accused of domestic abuse and those involved in attempting to overturn the 2020 presidential election.

A fundraising event scheduled for September 25 in Pinehurst, NC, prominently features Mike Hardin, the District Attorney for Moore and Hoke Counties, as a co-host. Hardin has been accused by his estranged wife, Victoria Hardin, of emotional and physical abuse. Court documents from May 2024 reveal allegations of physical assault and unauthorized financial withdrawals amounting to $173,000 from a joint account. Hardin denies these allegations.

Victoria Hardin’s lawyer conveyed to The Assembly, “Ms. Hardin had hoped that the parties would be able to resolve the legal matters arising from their separation privately and cooperatively. Unfortunately, that was not possible. The pleadings and motions Ms. Hardin filed speak for themselves.”

Cleta Mitchell, another co-host, is an attorney known for advising former President Donald Trump during his efforts to challenge the 2020 election outcome. Mitchell participated in a contentious call with Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, where Trump requested the discovery of additional ballots. This call later contributed to a criminal indictment against Trump in August 2023, and it led to Mitchell’s resignation from her law firm in 2021.

Whatley’s political career includes serving as the Republican National Committee chairman from March 2024 to August 2023, a role reportedly influenced by Trump’s preference for individuals supporting election fraud claims. In a November 2020 radio interview, Whatley stated, “Regardless of how these lawsuits come out around the country with the presidential race, we do know that there was massive fraud that took place.”

The fundraiser also features Republican Rep. Richard Hudson, chair of the National Republican Congressional Committee. Both Hudson and Whatley have faced scrutiny for endorsing controversial figures, such as Mark Robinson, whose gubernatorial campaign was marred by allegations of discriminatory remarks.

Admission prices for the event range from $250 to $14,000, highlighting the high-stakes nature of this campaign. Whatley is expected to face former Gov. Roy Cooper, who leads in recent polls with 47% compared to Whatley’s 41%, according to an Emerson poll from August. The race is anticipated to be among the most costly in U.S. Senate history.