One year since DC insider and Big Oil Lobbyist Michael Whatley announced his run for Senate, North Carolina families have seen all they need to: Whatley is a lying, self-enriching, out-of-touch DC insider who backs policies that are sending prices skyrocketing.
Whatley is a liar. To date, he has lied about:
- HIS BIO: NBC News: Michael Whatley’s Michigan roots largely disappear from his bio as he runs for Senate in North Carolina
- HIS LIFETIME OF LOBBYING: American Journal News: Whatley spent two decades cashing in as a corporate lobbyist
- THE ECONOMY: American Journal News: “Whatley…claimed inflation is ‘way down,’ despite economic data pointing in the opposite direction.”
- HELENE RECOVERY: Smoky Mountain News: Whatley claims on Helene aid collapse under scrutiny
- HARVEY WEST: WITN: “Whatley told WITN’s Hailey Hollinger at an event in June that he did not appoint West. […] According to the plan of organization committee rules, the chairman appoints all members, which would mean Whatley appointed West to that position.”
Whatley is running for Senate to continue to enrich himself.
- BIG OIL STOCKS: Fayetteville Observer: “Michael Whatley supports Trump’s Iran War. The supply disruption drives up profits for Whatley’s oil stock holdings and raises conflict-of-interest questions.”
- DUKE ENERGY STOCKS: Carolina Public Press: Whatley “still owns between $163,000 and $445,000 in Duke Energy stock […] critics have argued Whatley stands to profit from requested rate hikes.”
- BIG PHARMA STOCKS: Charlotte Observer: Drug companies profited from the Big Beautiful Bill. So did Michael Whatley
- PRIVATE INSURANCE STOCKS: Asheville Citizen-Times: Senate hopeful Whatley backed FEMA plan that could boost his portfolio
- WHATLEY’S CAMPAIGN IS BANKROLLED BY:
- A SEX PREDATOR: The Assembly: “Whatley defended the $350,000 he had received from John Childs, a Florida billionaire and frequent political donor who was charged—but not convicted—in 2019 with soliciting prostitution at a massage parlor.”
- CHEMOURS: WUNC: “The company behind the PFAS environmental disaster in Southeast North Carolina has contributed to Michael Whatley’s U.S. Senate campaign.”
Whatley is out of touch, insisting “costs are coming down” while supporting policies that raise costs on North Carolina families.
- HEALTH CARE: Whatley cheered on DC Republicans as they refused to extend the ACA tax credits, sending monthly premiums doubling for nearly one million North Carolinians.
- GAS: Whatley continues to “absolutely” support the Iran War as it sends gas prices skyrocketing.
- TARIFFS: Whatley called the trade war “record setting in terms of […] effectiveness” and said he supports it “wholeheartedly” – even as it spikes costs for families as the grocery store.
- UTILITIES: As North Carolina families face yet another Duke Energy rate hike, longtime Duke Energy Lobbyist Whatley refused to denounce it.
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