North Carolina GOP race ‘frozen’ as Lara Trump weighs Senate bid

By Rachael Bade, Myah Ward | 07/01/2025 06:18 AM EDT

The younger Trump — who declined to run for North Carolina Senate four years ago — is at a crossroads again after Republican Sen. Thom Tillis said he won’t seek reelection.

Lara Trump.

Lara Trump, the president's daughter-in-law, during a stop in Pennsylvania last year. Evan Vucci/AP

When Lara Trump considered jumping into the North Carolina Senate race four years ago, one of the most encouraging voices was her father-in-law.

President Donald Trump told his daughter-in-law to seize the moment, according to three people close to Lara Trump. Like others in this story, they were granted anonymity to discuss internal conversations.

“You should do it,” he told her, one of the three people said.

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She would have, if not for having two young children, ages 1 and 3, at the time, the people said.

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