Michael Whatley’s Controversial Fundraising Efforts for North Carolina Senate Race
Republican Michael Whatley is drawing attention for his choice of fundraising hosts in his bid for the U.S. Senate in North Carolina. He is enlisting support from individuals who have stirred significant controversy, including election deniers and those facing serious allegations.
An Instagram invitation reveals that Whatley is scheduled to headline a fundraiser on September 25 in Pinehurst, NC. Among the event’s co-hosts is Mike Hardin, the District Attorney for Moore and Hoke Counties. Hardin has been accused by his estranged wife, Victoria Hardin, of serious misconduct, including emotional and physical abuse.
In court documents filed in May 2024, Victoria Hardin accuses her husband of pushing her, causing bruises, and accessing her electronic devices without permission. Additionally, she claims he impersonated her through text messages and withdrew $173,000 from their joint bank account without her consent.
“Ms. Hardin had hoped that the parties would be able to resolve the legal matters arising from their separation privately and cooperatively,” stated her attorney to The Assembly news outlet. “Unfortunately, that was not possible. The pleadings and motions Ms. Hardin filed speak for themselves.”
Mike Hardin has denied all these allegations.
Another co-host of the fundraiser is attorney Cleta Mitchell, known for advising former President Donald Trump in attempts to challenge the 2020 presidential election results. Mitchell was involved in a contentious call where Trump urged Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger to “find” enough votes to alter the state’s election outcome.
Due to this involvement, Mitchell resigned from her law firm in 2021. The call became a focal point in the criminal indictment against Trump filed in August 2023.
Whatley, who served as chairman of the Republican National Committee from March 2024 until recently, is believed to have been chosen by Trump for his stance on election fraud narratives. In a November 2020 radio interview, Whatley stated, “Regardless of how these lawsuits come out around the country with the presidential race, we do know that there was massive fraud that took place. We know that it took place in places like Milwaukee and Detroit and Philadelphia.”
The event will also include Republican Representative Richard Hudson, the current chair of the National Republican Congressional Committee. Both Hudson and Whatley have faced criticism for supporting controversial figures in the past, such as Mark Robinson, a failed gubernatorial candidate known for his inflammatory remarks.
Ticket prices for the fundraiser vary from $250 to $14,000.
Whatley’s anticipated Democratic opponent is former Governor Roy Cooper. A poll conducted by Emerson in August shows Cooper ahead of Whatley with 47% to 41%, leaving 12% of voters undecided. The upcoming Senate race is projected to be one of the most costly in U.S. history.
The post Whatley leans on election deniers, alleged abusers to fund North Carolina Senate run appeared first on American Journal News.
