GASTONIA, N.C. — Michael Whatley made it official Thursday: he's running for Thom Tillis' seat in the U.S. Senate to represent North Carolina.

Whatley, the current chairman of the Republican National Committee, announced his run at Loray Mill Event Hall. Last week, WRAL News in Raleigh reported he had the full support of the White House as President Donald Trump's daughter, Lara Trump, opted to stay out of the race.

"Americans will be choosing whether to return to the failed policies of Joe Biden and Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer," Whatley said during his announcement. "Or are we going to continue the great gains that we have seen with President Trump and Republican House and a Republican Senate."

The announcement comes just over a month after Tillis announced he wouldn't seek re-elect

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