Lara Trump won't run for Sen. Thom Tillis' seat in North Carolina

Lara Trump, the president's daughter-in-law and former co-chair of the Republican National Committee, will not be pursuing a run for retiring North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis' seat. Why it matters: The announcement comes after multiple outlets reported RNC chair Michael Whatley will join the race. Lara Trump's connection to the president would have made her a highly competitive candidate in a swing state like North Carolina, giving Republicans a boost in a race that could be a potential pickup opportunity for Democrats in 2026.Senate Democrats are expecting former North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper to announce his run for the seat next Monday, launching a well-known candidate with a competitive state-wide profile into the race. What they're saying: "After much consideration and heartfelt discussions with my family, friends, and supporters, I have decided not to pursue the United States Senate seat in North Carolina at this time," Lara wrote in a post on X. "While I am not running in this election, my passion for Making America Great Again burns brightly, and I look forward to the future, wherever that leads."Neither Whatley nor the RNC immediately responded to Axios' request for comment.What's next: Whatley is expected to announce his candidacy for the seat "in the next week to 10 days," according to Politico. Whatley previously led the state's Republican Party prior to becoming the RNC co-chair with Lara Trump. President Trump is expected to pick a replacement for RNC chair around the same time that Whatley formally announces his campaign.Go deeper: Senate Democrats buoyed by Cooper's decision to runEditor's note: This story has been updated with additional details.

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