Trump stumps for GOP Senate hopeful in North Carolina, attacking rival's record
President Donald Trump held a rally in Gastonia, North Carolina, on Wednesday to boost Republican Senate nominee Michael Whatley, who trails Democrat Roy Cooper in recent polls. Trump criticized Cooper's handling of crime, though state data shows a decline in the crime index during Cooper's final two years in office. Trump urged supporters to treat the midterm election as if he were on the ballot, a tactic he also used at the GOP convention.
The rally in Gastonia marks an early test of Trump’s ability to transfer his base’s energy to Whatley, who trails by double digits in recent surveys. Trump’s crime-focused attack on Cooper relies on selective data: while the state’s crime index rose slightly from 2022 to 2023, it fell by over 4% during Cooper’s last two full years. Whatley, a former RNC chair, has embraced Trump’s platform without deviation, even as national Republicans face headwinds from inflation, tariffs, and the Iran conflict. Democrats view North Carolina as their top pickup opportunity, needing four seats to flip the Senate.
This race could signal whether Trump’s personal appeal still moves swing-state voters in a midterm defined by economic discontent. If Whatley loses despite a presidential rally, it may weaken Trump’s influence over GOP nominations and strategy. Conversely, a narrow win would reinforce his role as kingmaker. The outcome affects national control of the Senate, shaping judicial confirmations and legislative priorities, while also testing how crime messaging resonates against factual state trends.