Japan PM faces 'Japanese-first' populist challenge in upper house election
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Yahoo
17 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Gastonia resident and RNC Chair Michael Whatley expected to launch bid for Tillis' seat
Michael Whatley, a Gastonia resident and the chair of the Republican National Party, is expected to seek the seat held by U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis, who announced he would not seek re-election voting against advancing President Donald Trump's " big, beautiful bill," Republicans' massive domestic policy legislation. Whatley, one of the driving forces in the GOP today, would likely face former Gov. Roy Cooper in the race. The Democrat, whose final term as governor was bookended by the COVID-19 pandemic and Tropical Storm Helene, is expected to soon launch a campaign, according to reporting from Axios. Whatley began his climb in the GOP more than 2 decades ago. He served as chair of the Gaston County Republican Party from 1999-2001. In 2019 he was to picked to lead the North Carolina Republican Party, and in 2024 he became chair of the Republican National Committee. He has served as a senior official in the George W. Bush administration, and as chief of staff for former Sen. Elizabeth Dole. Politico reported this week that Whatley has the backing of Trump, whose daughter-in-law Lara Trump had also been rumored to be considering a bid. In a July 24 social media post, Lara Trump confirmed she would not be seeking the Senate seat. 'I am deeply grateful for the encouragement and support I have received from the people of my home state whom I love so much,' she wrote. Whatley did not respond to a July 24 request for comment from the Asheville Citizen Times. A White House spokesperson also did not respond to a request for comment on the president's reported endorsement. On the Democratic side, Axios first reported Cooper's intentions July 23. When reached by the Citizen Times, Morgan Jackson, a longtime political adviser to Cooper, declined to confirm Axios' reporting, but said the former governor 'would be making his intentions known in the coming days.' Cooper, who served two terms as North Carolina's governor, is a likely frontrunner to win his party's primary. Former Congressman Wiley Nickel is also vying for the seat, currently held by Tillis, who annnounced in June that he would not seek a third term in office. A matchup between Cooper and Whatley will likely be a high-stakes, expensive election that could determine whether Republicans can maintain control of the Senate. The race could prove to be 'as close to a toss-up as exists in American politics,' Chris Cooper, a professor of political science and public affairs at Western Carolina University, told the Citizen Times on July 24. Cooper, who is not related to the former governor, said both are 'heavyweight candidates with access to deep pockets and networks.' But neither Roy Cooper, nor Whatley, have outsized personalities that have often dominated politics in recent years. 'I think people who are expecting a barn-burner campaign driven by candidate narratives may be surprised,' Cooper said. Sarah Honosky contributed reporting. Jacob Biba is the Helene recovery reporter at the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA TODAY Network. Email him at jbiba@ This article originally appeared on The Gaston Gazette: Gastonia resident and RNC chair Michael Whatley may campaign for Tillis' seat
Bloomberg
19 minutes ago
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India Gives $565 Million Credit Line to Maldives as Ties Reset
By and Eltaf Najafizada Save India extended a $565 million credit line to the Maldives during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the island nation, signaling a reset in relations. The line of credit would be 'utilized for priority projects of my government' across key sectors including defense, education, and health, Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu said during a joint press conference with Modi on Friday in Male.
Yahoo
35 minutes ago
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Missouri gears up for 2026 state representative primaries
SOUTHWEST MISSOURI — It's an election that's still more than a year away – but there are already a few southwest Missouri candidates throwing their hats in the ring. Primaries for local State Representative seats won't take place until August of 2026. But three politicians have filed the paperwork saying they'll run for office. In Joplin's 161st district, Thomas Ross says he'll run as a Republican… his third time seeking the seat. It is currently held by Lane Roberts who will be term limited. MO State Rep from Neosho accepts Trump appointment Meanwhile, there are two names in the race for the 160th district in Newton County, which is vacant following the resignation of Ben Baker in May. Both Jonathan Russell and Chris Wright have indicated they will run as Republicans. While the governor had the option to name a special election to choose a replacement, experts agree that's unlikely given the amount of time required for filing and the election preparation process. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Solve the daily Crossword
