WASHINGTON — Republican National Committee Chair Michael Whatley has formally kicked off his bid for the hotly-contested North Carolina Senate seat, opening the door for new leadership at the top of the official GOP.

Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Whatley has launched his campaign for North Carolina’s open U.S. Senate seat

Republican National Committee Chair Michael Whatley enters the 2026 North Carolina Senate race to succeed retiring Sen. Thom Tillis in expected costly battle

Democrats in the Senate are picking up the baton from their colleagues in the House to keep the Jeffrey Epstein saga in the news cycle and stoke GOP divisions. A small group of Senate Democrats, led by Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY),

Democrats on Wednesday ramped up pressure on Republicans over the Jeffrey Epstein files, turning to an arcane rule to attempt to force the release of the documents that have become a significant pain point for the Trump administration and Republicans.