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Aug 21, 2026

  • Press Release

    • FACT SHEET: Republican Senate Candidates’ Corruption Takes Center Stage in Battleground Races

    GOP Senate candidates are facing scrutiny over extensive lobbying ties and corporate conflicts, mired in corruption and ethics scandals, and caught red-handed in self-dealing

    Across key Senate battleground states, GOP Senate candidates have a corruption problem – with records chock-full of ethics scandals, conflicts of interest, insider lobbying ties, and self-enrichment.

    Voters are motivated to root out corruption in Washington, and Republicans’ personal records of cashing in at the expense of their states, abusing power, and looking out for their billionaire donors and own bottom lines present them with a massive election vulnerability. 

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    ALASKA

    GEORGIA

    IOWA

    MAINE

    MICHIGAN

    NEW HAMPSHIRE

    NORTH CAROLINA

    • Michael Whatley spent “more than a decade lobbying for oil and natural gas companies and their allies,” including lobbying for offshore drilling off the coast of North Carolina, which was “met with bipartisan opposition.”
    • Michael Whatley argued in favor of energy rate hikes on North Carolinians when he lobbied for companies like Duke Energy – and is now refusing to comment on another proposed rate hike as he gets rich off of between $163,000 and $445,000 in Duke Energy stock.
    • Michael Whatley has been caught promoting policies on the campaign trail that would benefit his own personal wealth. 
      • Whatley cheered on the Trump administration’s actions in Venezuela, then saw a “windfall,” with his Big Oil stock holdings increasing in value by as much as $63,000 in a single weekend. 
      • Similarly, as rising oil prices tied to the Iran war squeeze North Carolina families, Whatley holds up to $1.39 million in oil and gas investments, which reportedly could have netted Whatley a profit of up to $219,660.
      • Whatley actively pushed for a bill that changed prescription drug regulation, increasing drug prices for North Carolina seniors and benefiting up to $265,000 of his Big Pharma stock.
      • Whatley’s FEMA Review Council report included recommendations pushing for the privatization of flood insurance, which could benefit up to $190,000 of stock he holds at the expense of disaster victims.

    OHIO

    TEXAS

    • Paxton’s personal wealth has ballooned to $13 million, with his net worth increasing by up to 7,000% since he was first elected nearly two decades ago. 
      • Paxton became a multimillionaire in office and sought out luxury gifts from lobbyists, including thousands of dollars’ worth of NFL tickets.
    • Paxton has been dogged by securities fraud charges for over a decade, allegedly misleading investors and convincing them to invest more than $1 million in various companies – without ever disclosing that it was boosting his own stock and earning him commission.
      • After he was indicted on multiple felony securities fraud charges, Paxton’s wife – a Texas state legislator – introduced a bill that experts warned could weaken the felony case against her husband.

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