North Carolina is a pivotal battleground state and the Senate race is one of the premier contests of the upcoming midterm elections.

Republican National Committee Chair Michael Whatley intends to run for Senate in North Carolina and would have the White House's full support, a source familiar with the matter told NBC News

Michael Whatley, chair of the Republican National Committee, plans to launch a campaign for Senate in North Carolina after Lara Trump, the president’s daughter-in-law, chose not to run, according to three people familiar with the decision who spoke on the condition of anonymity because his plans have not been publicly announced.