Is Lara Trump eligible to run for office in North Carolina?

Trump was born in Wilmington and graduated from NC State University but currently lives in Florida, raising questions about her eligibility.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Sen. Thom Tillis’ announcement of his retirement has opened a competitive race for his North Carolina Senate seat, with names from both parties already circulating as potential candidates, including President Donald Trump’s daughter-in-law, Lara Trump.

Trump was born in Wilmington and graduated from NC State University but currently lives in Florida, raising questions about her eligibility to run for the North Carolina seat.

Let’s verify if she is eligible and why.

OUR SOURCE

Federal and North Carolina state election laws

THE QUESTION:

Is Lara Trump eligible to run in an election representing North Carolina if she does not currently live here?

WHAT WE FOUND:

Lara Trump could run for the Senate seat despite not currently living in the state. She meets federal requirements for age and citizenship but would need to establish residency in North Carolina by the time of the election.

State laws are trickier.

North Carolina requires candidates to be “affiliated with the party for at least 90 days” when filing for candidacy. Since voter registration requires state residency, and filing occurs in December, Trump would need to move back to North Carolina by September to meet the 90-day party affiliation requirement.

THE QUESTION:

WHAT WE FOUND:

Trump has not made any formal announcements about her candidacy. However, a source close to the Trump family told NBC News that she is “strongly considering” a run. When asked about the likelihood of her candidacy, the source said, “I’d put it as high as one could be considering it.”

THE QUESTION:

WHAT WE FOUND:

The potential Republican field remains uncertain pending Trump’s decision. Possible GOP contenders include RNC Chairman Mike Whatley and Rep. Pat Harrigan. However, Harrigan endorsed Lara Trump’s potential candidacy Tuesday in a post on X, suggesting Republicans may not challenge her if she enters the race.

On the Democratic side, former U.S. Rep. Wiley Nickel has announced his candidacy for the seat. Former Gov. Roy Cooper’s name has been mentioned as a potential candidate, though he is not expected to make a formal decision for several weeks.

Contact Julie Kay at juliekay@wcnc.com and follow her on Facebook, X and Instagram.

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