Michael Whatley, the Republican nominee for U.S. Senate in North Carolina, has stood by the Iran war, telling reporters in September 2026 that he feels higher gas prices at the pump but that the war is necessary. North Carolina gas prices rose from $2.77 to $3.77 a gallon between February 18 and August 20, 2026, a 36.1% increase, by AAA data compiled by Visual Capitalist.
Whatley also backs continued tariffs, which equal $1,967 per North Carolina household since January 2025, and praised the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which Energy Innovation projects, together with other federal energy actions, will cost North Carolina households an average of $670 more for energy in 2035.
Michael Whatley's Statements on the Iran War, Tariffs and Household Costs
- Whatley Stood by the Iran War as North Carolina Gas Prices Rose 36 Percent. Asked by reporters on September 30, 2026 what his message was to people and businesses hit by record-high diesel prices, Michael Whatley said "My message is that Iran cannot have nuclear weapons." The Duke Chronicle reported that day that he said he "feel[s] it when we go to the pump" but that the war is necessary to stop Iran from developing nuclear weapons. He had already conceded at a September 18 campaign stop that fertilizer and fuel costs had gone up for farmers "because of the war in Iran." Gas in North Carolina went from $2.77 to $3.77 a gallon between February 18 and August 20, 2026, an increase of 36.1%, by AAA data. Moody's economist Mark Zandi estimated the war costs the average household almost $2,000, including $1,100 in higher energy prices and $540 in higher interest rates, AP reported. An Elon University poll in April 2026 found 51% of North Carolina respondents opposed U.S. military involvement in Iran, WRAL reported.
- Whatley Backs Continued Tariffs That Equal $1,967 per North Carolina Household. On September 30, 2026, Michael Whatley reiterated his support for continued tariffs, saying "They are going to help North Carolina companies." Executive tariffs since January 2025 are equivalent to $1,967 per North Carolina household, by the National Taxpayers Union Foundation's tracker, and the Minneapolis Federal Reserve found that tariffs account for 0.2 to 0.4 percentage points of core PCE inflation as of July 2026.
- Whatley Praised a Law Projected to Raise North Carolina Energy Bills. As chair of the Republican National Committee, Michael Whatley called the final House passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act "a huge win for all Americans" in a July 3, 2025 statement. The law repealed or phased out tax credits for clean energy, home efficiency and electric vehicles. Energy Innovation projects that, because of the law and other federal energy policy changes since January 2025, North Carolina households will pay an additional $34 billion for energy, an average of $670 per household in 2035, and that North Carolina's gasoline prices will be 16 percent higher in 2035.
What the Policies Michael Whatley Backed Cost North Carolina Households
- Gas prices. North Carolina gas prices rose by $1.00 a gallon between February 18 and August 20, 2026, AAA data compiled by Visual Capitalist show.
- Food costs. Guilford County food pantries are getting less food from farmers struggling with higher costs for gas and fertilizer, the head of the nonprofit A Simple Gesture told NC Health News in August 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions About Michael Whatley on Cost of living
What is Michael Whatley's record on the cost of living under Trump?
Michael Whatley supports the Iran war, which pushed up North Carolina gas prices, backs continued tariffs, and praised the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which is projected to raise North Carolina household energy costs. He told reporters in September 2026 that his message to people hit by record diesel prices is that Iran cannot have nuclear weapons.
What did Michael Whatley say about gas prices?
Michael Whatley said he feels higher gas prices "when we go to the pump" but called the Iran war necessary, the Duke Chronicle reported on October 1, 2026. In a September 2026 campaign stop he acknowledged that the war was driving up prices for farmers, Punchbowl News reported.
Is the Iran war that Michael Whatley supports popular in North Carolina?
No. Michael Whatley supports a war that 51% of North Carolina respondents opposed in an Elon University poll released in April 2026, WRAL reported; several thousand troops from Fort Bragg are deployed in the Middle East.
Last updated: 2026-10-25