President Donald Trump will travel to North Carolina on Wednesday for a visit intended to assist Republican Senate candidate Michael Whatley in increasing voter turnout. On September 4, North Carolina became the first state to send out mail-in ballots for the general election. The Senate election in the state is considered one of the most competitive races, with Whatley, a former chair of the Republican National Committee, facing financial challenges and trailing in polls behind his Democratic opponent, former Governor Roy Cooper.
The White House announced that Trump will deliver remarks in Gastonia, near Charlotte, focusing on his administration's efforts to restore law and order. This will be Trump's first visit to North Carolina since December when he campaigned alongside Whatley.
DJ Griffin, a spokesperson for Whatley, stated, "No one fires up Republicans to get out and vote like President Trump does, and his visit is an important part of turning out Republicans to the polls this November." While no Democrat has won a Senate seat in North Carolina since 2008, the Democratic Party aims to leverage Trump's low approval rating, which was recorded at 31% in a September poll by Elon University.
Republican strategist Jim Burton commented that Trump's presence generates enthusiasm and signals the party's commitment to North Carolina, benefiting all Republican candidates. The Republican Party has shown support for Whatley through financial investments, including a $2.9 million advertisement reservation against Cooper by the No Going Back PAC and a $71 million investment by the Senate Leadership Fund in support of Whatley.
Trump's visit follows a Republican midterm convention in Dallas where he encouraged party members to act as if he were on the ballot. Kevin Leebrick, a small business owner who donated to Whatley's campaign, expressed cautious optimism about the race, stating that Trump's visit could help close the polling gap.
The attendance of North Carolina's congressional delegation at the event remains uncertain due to Congress being in session. Rep. Mark Harris called Trump's presence "pivotal in rallying the base," while Rep. Richard Hudson noted that Republicans are more unified and energized than in recent times, emphasizing that Trump's visit will help maintain momentum heading into November.
Trump's visit will follow a trip to North Carolina by First Lady Melania Trump, who focused on promoting technology and artificial intelligence in education. Additionally, North Carolina is home to two significant House races, with Republican state Rep. Jennifer Balkcom running against Democrat Jamie Ager in the 11th Congressional District and Republican Laurie Buckhout challenging Democratic Rep. Don Davis in the 1st Congressional District. Inquiries about the candidates' attendance at Trump's event went unanswered.