Michael Whatley is setting his sights on the future as he embarks on his U.S. Senate bid in North Carolina. However, the impact of the GOP’s previous statewide run, led by former Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, remains significant.
Robinson was defeated in the 2024 governor’s race by nearly 15 points, largely due to controversies stemming from his history of making offensive remarks and embracing extreme policies, such as advocating for a complete abortion ban. His reputation was further marred by comments made on a porn website’s comment section.
Whatley, who chaired the North Carolina Republican Party from 2019 until March 2024, a period that coincided with much of Robinson’s political career, had publicly supported Robinson on numerous occasions.
In a September 2020 radio interview, Whatley commended Robinson, stating, “Mark is a man of tremendous faith and a very solid conservative. I think he missed his calling as a Baptist preacher. He’s one of the most elegant, powerful speakers that I’ve seen in politics in generations.” Whatley also referred to Robinson as a “man of the people.”
At the time of these endorsements, Robinson had already faced scrutiny for his controversial social media posts, which included comparisons of abortion to murder, labeling LGBTQ individuals as “demonic,” alleging Jewish control of Hollywood, and describing COVID-19 as a “globalist” scheme, as reported by IndyWeek.
Following Robinson’s victory in the 2020 lieutenant governor race, Whatley praised his campaign on social media, asserting, “Mark Robinson ran one of the most effective campaigns in NC history. He was relentlessly focused on delivering his message to NC voters and completely authentic. We need more candidates like Mark in politics.”
Robinson’s tenure as lieutenant governor was marked by further controversies, often fueled by his outspoken public statements. In June 2021, during the North Carolina Republican Convention, which Whatley attended, Robinson criticized abortion rights, telling women, “Once you make a baby, it’s not your body anymore.”
In March 2023, additional social media posts from Robinson surfaced, including one in which he appeared to question the Holocaust’s death toll, a claim Robinson later said was misinterpreted.
Whatley endorsed Robinson again when he secured the Republican nomination for governor in March 2024, writing on X, “Congratulations to Mark Robinson for winning the NC Gubernatorial Primary. North Carolina voters have delivered a resounding message that they want change in the Governor’s Mansion and Mark Robinson is ready to deliver it!”
Whatley assumed the role of national Republican Party chairman later that month. It wasn’t until September 2024, amid revelations by CNN about Robinson’s porn forum comments, that Whatley distanced himself, telling Bloomberg News, “Those comments are absolutely antithetical to Republican values.”
Former North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory, also a Republican, blamed Whatley for Robinson’s ascent, telling CNN that Whatley “ignored many known flaws that many of us knew about [Robinson] and just assumed they’d be brushed over. But [Robinson’s campaign] has been a ticking time bomb for several years now.”
Robinson’s campaign was unable to recover, resulting in his loss to current Gov. Josh Stein in the 2024 election.
Whatley is now campaigning to succeed retiring Republican Sen. Thom Tillis, who recently opposed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Tillis commented to Axios on July 23, referring to Robinson’s campaign as an “embarrassment” and urging North Carolina Republicans to “learn a lesson” from it.
Whatley is currently viewed as the leading candidate for the Republican nomination. His anticipated Democratic opponent, former Gov. Roy Cooper, has consistently criticized Robinson’s comments and called for his resignation on several occasions.
The upcoming North Carolina Senate race is projected to be one of the most closely watched and costly contests of 2026.
—
Read More Kitchen Table News
