Michael Whatley seeks support from ex-governor Blagojevich for campaign

Michael Whatley seeks a boost in his U.S. Senate campaign by aligning with former Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich, a convicted felon.

March 23, 2026

Michael Whatley, a U.S. Senate candidate from North Carolina, is facing challenges with close polls and slow fundraising. To bolster his campaign, Whatley is seeking assistance from a surprising figure: former Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich, a convicted felon.

Whatley joined Blagojevich at a fundraising event on March 19 at Trump Tower in Chicago. Don Tracy, the Republican Senate candidate for Illinois, was also present at the event.

Blagojevich, who was elected governor in 2002 and re-elected in 2006, was impeached in 2009. He faced accusations of attempting to profit from appointing someone to the Senate seat vacated by then-President-elect Barack Obama.

In a 2009 FBI-recorded phone call, Blagojevich infamously stated, “I’ve got this thing, and it’s fucking golden. I’m just not giving it up for fucking nothing.”

Two years later, Blagojevich was found guilty on 17 counts, including trying to sell the Senate seat and extortion related to state finances, resulting in a 14-year prison sentence. Despite his conviction, he continues to assert his innocence.

In 2020, President Donald Trump commuted Blagojevich’s sentence, leading to his early release. The following year, Trump issued Blagojevich a full pardon, effectively removing the charges from his record.

Trump’s decision faced criticism from numerous Illinois politicians, including Republicans. Republican state Sen. Jil Tracy remarked, “Anybody that had lived in the state of Illinois during that time and saw how dysfunctional and chaotic that administration was. This man abused his power and there definitely was a pay-for-play.”