Michael Whatley Warns Against ‘Communist Crazy’ Policies as North Carolina Senate Race Heats Up Ahead of Midterm Elections

RALEIGH, N.C. — As the midterm elections enter their final 100 days, North Carolina Senate candidate and former Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Whatley is drawing a sharp contrast between Republican economic policies and what he describes as the Democratic Party’s “slow march into Marxism.” With the North Carolina Senate race projected to be the most expensive in the country, Whatley is campaigning heavily on tax relief, public safety, and free-market principles.

The rhetoric on the campaign trail has intensified nationwide, with President Trump recently highlighting the economy and the re-shoring of American manufacturing during a visit to Michigan. Trump criticized the progressive wing of the Democratic Party, stating that Republicans are “running against communists.” He warned that their policies aim to raise taxes up to 80 percent, eliminate police forces, and undermine property rights, asserting that “you go communist, nothing good happens.”

Current political projections indicate a highly competitive national landscape. Democrats are projected to win the House of Representatives with a 225-210 margin, while Republicans are given a 60 percent chance of maintaining control of the Senate by a very narrow margin.

Campaigning across all 100 counties in North Carolina, Whatley has centered his message on “kitchen table” economic issues. He emphasized the benefits of recent legislative wins, highlighting provisions such as no taxes on tips, no taxes on overtime, and no taxes on Social Security. Whatley noted that the average North Carolina household paid less in taxes on April 15th as a direct result of these policies, framing his platform as a stark contrast to his opponent, Governor Roy Cooper.

Whatley sharply criticized Cooper’s legislative and executive record, alleging that the governor opposed working families’ tax cuts, raised taxes as a legislator, and vetoed six tax cuts during his tenure as governor. Furthermore, Whatley condemned Cooper’s criminal justice policies, claiming the governor emptied state prisons of 4,200 inmates—including individuals convicted of aggravated assault, sexual assault, rape, and murder—to avoid COVID-19 outbreaks in jails. Whatley asserted that 2,200 of these individuals have since been rearrested, and 50 have committed murder since their release, leading to a surge in crime and leaving families with “empty seats” at holiday tables.

The financial stakes in the North Carolina Senate race are unprecedented, with expectations that up to $800 million will be spent locally. Whatley acknowledged the massive financial commitments from Democratic groups, noting that tens of millions of dollars are being targeted at Senate races in states like Ohio, Michigan, Maine, and South Carolina. However, he remained confident that the Senate Leadership Fund and other Republican backers have secured sufficient resources to disseminate their message effectively, noting that good policy remains good politics.

Framing the current economic climate as “Industrial Revolution 2.0,” Whatley argued that the United States maintains the highest per capita GDP in the world as a direct complement of capitalism. Addressing widespread cost-of-living concerns, he stated that the Republican solution focuses on creating more and better jobs, increasing take-home pay, and driving down inflation, interest costs, and taxes so that everyday Americans can keep more of their earnings.