Lara Trump might just be the wildcard Republicans need in North Carolina. Her potential run for the open Senate seat has the GOP buzzing with anticipation.
According to The Hill, Lara Trump, daughter-in-law of President Trump and former RNC co-chair, is seriously weighing a bid for the seat vacated by Sen. Thom Tillis, who announced he won’t seek reelection. If she jumps in, party insiders believe the field will clear for her almost instantly.
With her family name and high-level backing, she’s already seen as the frontrunner for the GOP nomination. Many in the party view her as the best shot to hold the seat against a possible challenge from former Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper.
North Carolina Republican strategist Jonathan Felts didn’t hold back, saying Lara has “earned the right of first refusal” if she wants the race. He’s not alone in thinking her father-in-law, the most influential figure in the party, agrees wholeheartedly.
That kind of endorsement isn’t just a pat on the back; it’s a bulldozer clearing the path. While some might call it nepotism, it’s hard to deny the raw political capital a Trump on the ballot brings to energize the base.
Even RNC Chair Michael Whatley signaled he’d step aside, telling the Washington Examiner he’d expect the entire “Republican universe” to rally behind her. That’s not just loyalty; it’s a cold calculation about winning.
Still, Lara isn’t without hurdles, starting with her current Florida residence despite deep roots in North Carolina. Critics could easily paint her as a carpetbagger, a label that’s stung candidates in past races.
President Trump himself addressed this, noting she’s “there all the time” and her parents still live in the state, emphasizing she “really knows North Carolina well.” Yet, optics matter, and skeptics might not buy the hometown connection when her mailbox says Florida.
North Carolina Democratic strategist Morgan Jackson argued she could alienate the crucial sliver of swing voters, saying Tillis had a better shot with moderates because he wasn’t seen as a “partisan warrior.” That critique stings, especially when voters are weary of polarized brawlers in Washington.
Despite never running for office, Lara’s campaign experience for her father-in-law and others gives her an edge, according to Felts, who recalled her captivating crowds at the state GOP convention in 2021. He’s confident she’d have supporters “eating out of her hand” if she announced today.
That grassroots charm could counterbalance her lack of direct electoral experience. It’s a gamble, but one that could pay off if she channels the same populist fire that’s defined her family’s brand.
Yet Jackson warned she risks being seen as just another partisan fighter, predicting, “What is clear is with Thom Tillis being run out of the race by [President] Trump is that they’re going to get a partisan warrior.” That’s a fair jab; in a state as closely divided as this, turning off even a small percentage of independents could cost dearly.
Analysts and operatives from both sides agree North Carolina will be a brutal battleground no matter who runs, with Jackson noting it’s “hard to win” regardless of party. Candidate quality, though, could tip the scales in this razor-thin margin state.
A GOP insider pointed out Lara’s name recognition gives her a head start, unmatched by other potential Republican contenders, and could drive turnout among sporadic Trump voters. That advantage might just offset any moderate hesitations if she plays her cards right.
In the end, Lara Trump’s decision looms as a personal and family one, but the stakes for Republicans couldn’t be higher. Holding this seat with a powerhouse name might be their best defense against a shifting political tide in a state that’s anything but predictable.
