Former RNC Chair Likely GOP Nominee For NC Senate Race In 26, Because Everybody Just LOVES Oil Lobbyist Candidates

Michael Whatley’s career as an oil lobbyist could haunt him in his bid to be North Carolina’s next U.S. senator. Whatley, the recently departed chair of the Republican National Committee, spent more than a decade lobbying for oil and natural gas companies and their allies. As part of that, he helped launch and lead the Consumer Energy Alliance, an oil-backed advocacy group.

Democrats are looking to make that a liability in a state where people and leaders from both parties have been skeptical of offshore oil drilling. “Whether it’s fighting for offshore drilling that would harm North Carolina’s tourism economy, or championing Medicaid cuts that will raise costs and gut health care for hundreds of thousands of North Carolinians, Michael Whatley is a DC insider and Big Oil lobbyist who puts billionaires and special interests over North Carolina families every chance he gets,” said Mallory Payne, a spokesperson for the North Carolina Democratic Party.

Whatley has lobbied for offshore drilling in the Atlantic Ocean, including off the coast of North Carolina, a prospect that’s been met with bipartisan opposition. He is now the favored Republican candidate to succeed retiring Sen. Thom Tillis with the support of President Donald Trump and the National Republican Senatorial Committee.

In endorsing him in August, Trump said Whatley would “Champion American Energy DOMINANCE,” while saying he “delivered for North Carolina, especially after the terrible floods,” referring to the 2024 destruction from Hurricane Helene. He’ll likely face former North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper, a Democrat, in next year’s midterm election, a race that could decide the party balance of the closely divided Senate. The North Carolina Democratic Party and Cooper’s campaign manager have been referring to Whatley as a “Big Oil lobbyist” in nearly all of its communications about him. The accusations come as both Whatley and Cooper work to introduce the Republican to North Carolinians. He’s chaired the RNC and the North Carolina Republican Party but doesn’t enjoy the same name recognition as the former governor.

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https://www.eenews.net/articles/republicans-oil-ties-a-focus-in-north-carolina-senate-race/