Michael Whatley’s Controversial Fundraiser for North Carolina Senate Campaign
Republican Michael Whatley is drawing attention for his choice of allies in his bid for a U.S. Senate seat in North Carolina. Among those helping to raise funds for his campaign are individuals with contentious backgrounds, including allegations of domestic abuse and involvement in election disputes.
A fundraiser scheduled for September 25 in Pinehurst, NC, features Mike Hardin, the District Attorney for Moore and Hoke Counties, as a co-host. Hardin has been accused of serious misconduct by his estranged wife, Victoria Hardin. According to court filings from May 2024, Victoria claims that Hardin physically assaulted her and accessed her personal electronic devices without permission, among other allegations. Her attorney remarked to The Assembly, “Ms. Hardin had hoped that the parties would be able to resolve the legal matters arising from their separation privately and cooperatively. Unfortunately, that was not possible. The pleadings and motions Ms. Hardin filed speak for themselves.” Hardin has denied all allegations against him.
Another notable figure at the event is Cleta Mitchell, an attorney who advised former President Donald Trump during his attempts to contest the 2020 election results. Mitchell was part of a widely publicized phone call where Trump urged Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger to “find” enough votes to overturn the election outcome in Georgia. This call contributed to a criminal indictment against Trump in August 2023, leading to Mitchell’s resignation from her law firm in 2021.
Michael Whatley, who was the chairman of the Republican National Committee from March 2024 to August 2023, has been associated with election fraud narratives. In a 2020 radio interview, Whatley claimed, “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.”
Also attending the fundraiser is Republican Representative Richard Hudson, chair of the National Republican Congressional Committee. Both Hudson and Whatley have faced criticism for their support of controversial figures, notably Mark Robinson, a candidate with a history of offensive remarks.
Entry to the fundraiser ranges from $250 to $14,000, drawing attention to the financial stakes in this political race. Whatley’s potential Democratic rival, former Governor Roy Cooper, currently leads in the polls with a 47% to 41% advantage, according to an Emerson poll conducted in August. The North Carolina Senate race is anticipated to be one of the costliest in history.
For further details, visit the original report from American Journal News.
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