# North Carolina Republican campaign controversies > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/north-carolina-republican-campaign-controversies > Updated: 2026-09-29T19:03:40.000Z. Sources: 5. Developments: 2. Republican candidates in North Carolina are facing scrutiny regarding their professional backgrounds and associations. In mid-September, Michael Whatley, a Republican Senate nominee, faced controversy after Pastor Daimon L. King, a convicted sex offender, delivered an opening prayer at a campaign rally. A campaign spokesperson stated the campaign did not invite King, noting he was invited by the hosts, the Craven County Republican Party. By late September, scrutiny expanded to include other candidates and past associations. Whatley reportedly removed references to his former role in the George W. Bush Administration from his campaign website following questions about his involvement in energy legislation. Additionally, Supreme Court candidate Sarah Stevens faced criticism for her ties to convicted sex offender Harvey West, having attended a fundraiser at his home and appeared on a podcast hosted by his wife. These developments follow previous reports regarding Whatley’s support for West’s service on Republican committees. ## Timeline ### 2026-09-29: North Carolina Republican candidates face campaign scrutiny North Carolina Republican candidates Michael Whatley and Sarah Stevens face scrutiny over past professional ties to Enron and associations with a convicted sex offender. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/north-carolina-republican-candidates-face-campaign-scrutiny ### 2026-09-11: Michael Whatley campaign rally features prayer by convicted sex offender A registered sex offender delivered a prayer at a campaign rally for North Carolina Republican Senate nominee Michael Whatley. The campaign stated the event was organized by the Craven County Republican Party. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/michael-whatley-campaign-rally-features-prayer-by-convicted-sex-offender --- Cite as: North Carolina Republican campaign controversies. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/north-carolina-republican-campaign-controversies