Trump’s Pick Is Everything North Carolinians Don’t Like in Politics

Michael Whatley, former chair of the NC Republican Party and the Republican National Committee, is still a relative unknown to North Carolina voters, contributing to former NC Governor Roy Cooper’s expanding lead in the latest polls. 

Whatley has a long history as a corporate lobbyist working on behalf of Big Oil and Big Pharma, to the detriment of the pocketbooks of average citizens. Supporters for Cooper hope to establish his identity as “Wall Street Whatley” in the minds of voters. The moniker could be politically poisonous in this time of rising energy costs and spiking inflation in general. 

Whatley’s Wall Street Wins

Whately’s critics have substance with which to work. They point to his personal profits from pharmaceutical companies after passage of Congressional legislation which he helped to push. Most recently, they have emphasized his stock gains from oil industry investments as a result of Trump’s actions in Venezuela and war in Iran, which Whatley also supports. 

Whatley Lobbied For Rate Increases

And then there’s Whatley’s history as a high-ranking corporate lobbyist. According to the Carolina Public Press, “Whately was executive vice president of Consumer Energy Alliance, an oil, gas and utility lobbying group with Duke Energy among its clients. CEA is operated by HBW Resources, Whatley’s former lobbying firm.  While a lobbyist for CEA, Whatley and his fellow lobbyists argued in favor of rate increases, advocated for the Atlantic Coast Pipeline, which was led by Duke Energy and Dominion Energy, and asked the Utilities Commission to allow Duke Energy to pass along cleanup costs from a 2014 coal ash spill to customers.” The article continues, “While Whatley left CEA in 2019 for his political role, his family still owns between $163,000 and $445,000 in Duke Energy stock, according to his most recent financial disclosure.”

As the Senate campaign continues during ongoing Congressional debate about barring members of Congress from stock trading while they are in position to benefit their portfolios through their votes, the “Wall Street” identity could raise a lightning rod of troubles for Michael Whatley.

Cooper In Comparison

The League of Conservation Voters (LCV) Action Fund endorsed Roy Cooper early in the runup to this year’s primaries for U.S. Senate. “North Carolinians know firsthand the devastating impact of extreme weather and pollution on families, and Roy Cooper will fight to protect North Carolinians in the Senate as he did as governor,” said LCV Senior Vice President of Government Affairs Tiernan Sittenfeld. “People across the country are facing rising energy costs and continued threats to our environment and our fundamental rights — it’s more important than ever to have champions like Roy Cooper in the Senate who will help ensure we all can have a more healthy and just future.” 

During his service as a State Senator, Attorney General, and Governor in North Carolina, Cooper was recognized as an environmental champion, including for his consistent strong work for cleaner air, environmental justice, clean energy, and climate action. 

What Can You Do?

The most important thing we can do for the environment is vote. Check your voter registration today, and make a plan to vote in the general election. Then invite your family and friends to do the same.

Together, we will build a movement that puts communities and people ahead of the unregulated profit of Big Oil executives and their lobbyists. Help us do that in our state by donating today!