Lara Trump, the president’s daughter-in-law and former co-chair of the Republican National Committee, chose family commitments over a Senate run in North Carolina despite Donald Trump’s backing for the race.
In July 2025, Trump announced she would not pursue the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by retiring Republican Senator Thom Tillis. “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,” she said in a statement posted to X.
The decision came after Trump had publicly endorsed his daughter-in-law as his preferred candidate, calling her his “first choice” for the seat on July 1, 2025. However, Lara Trump, who is married to Eric Trump and mother of two young children, prioritized her family responsibilities in reaching the decision.
Lara Trump had faced a similar choice in 2021, when she declined to run for the same North Carolina Senate seat, citing her two young children as the reason. Her children with Eric Trump, son Luke and daughter Carolina, were central to her reasoning both times.
After Lara Trump’s withdrawal, Trump quickly shifted his support to Republican National Committee Chair Michael Whatley, who announced his candidacy for the seat. Trump expressed his support for Whatley in subsequent months, calling him “one of the most capable executives in our country” and actively campaigning on his behalf during the 2026 election cycle.
The decision highlighted the tension between political ambition and family priorities within the Trump family. Despite her influential role in Republican politics and the backing of the president, Lara Trump determined that a statewide Senate campaign would demand too much from her family at that time. She remained active in GOP politics through other channels, but the North Carolina Senate race moved forward without her as a candidate.
Sources
- Axios — Lara Trump’s announcement declining the North Carolina Senate seat and her statement about family discussions
- The Hill — Trump’s endorsement of Lara Trump as his “first choice” for the North Carolina Senate seat
- Politico — Details of Lara Trump’s 2021 decision to decline the same seat due to her two young children
- NBC News — Michael Whatley’s candidacy announcement and Trump’s subsequent endorsement
- People Magazine — Information about Lara Trump’s two children with Eric Trump
