In response to DC insider and Big Oil lobbyist Michael Whatley filing today to run for the United States Senate, North Carolina Democratic Party Spokesperson Mallory Payne released the following statement:

“Let’s be clear – Michael Whatley is running for the U.S. Senate to represent the special interests and DC politicians he’s spent his career delivering for – not North Carolina. As costs skyrocket for working families and small businesses because of reckless tariffs, Whatley has cheered on the trade war. As health care costs soar and coverage gets ripped away from North Carolinians, Whatley has called it a ‘huge win.’ As Western North Carolina asks for the federal Helene relief they were promised, ‘recovery czar’ Whatley has abandoned them. Whatley will always put DC first and North Carolina last, and that’s why voters will reject him next November.”

From rising health care and grocery costs, to failing to deliver federal Helene relief, Michael Whatley has repeatedly sided with DC politicians at the expense of North Carolina families:

• Whatley backed the toxic GOP budget that guts Medicaid for hundreds of thousands of North Carolinians and is driving up health care costs, all to give billionaires a tax break. He called it a “huge win” and said he would have voted for it “in a heartbeat.”

• Whatley supports Washington Republicans refusing to extend the ACA tax credits that make health care more affordable – leaving nearly one million North Carolinians with skyrocketing premiums.

• As chaotic and reckless tariffs spike costs for North Carolina families, farmers, and small businesses, Whatley has called the tariffs “record setting in terms of […] effectiveness” and said he supports them “wholeheartedly.”

• As Western North Carolina’s federal “recovery czar,” Whatley has completely failed to deliver relief to Helene victims, prompting more than 100 Western North Carolinians to call for his removal from the FEMA Review Council.

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