Meet Senate Candidate Don Brown Who Is Challenging Trump-Backed Michael Whatley
President Donald Trump endorsed RNC Chairman Michael Whatley in the North Carolina Senate race; however, he faces Don Brown, who is also running for the Republican nomination.
Brown is a former Navy JAG officer and Special Assistant US Attorney. He has authored 16 books over the last decade, including four best-sellers. Brown is the Principal Attorney at Charlotte-based law firm Brown & Associates offering “comprehensive” and “unbundled” legal services.
In 2007, the North Carolina Bar officially censured Brown for violating the professional rules of conduct for lawyers. Brown had been hired by an individual for representation in a NASD arbitration case. The Grievance Committee noted that Brown failed to provide a witness list or ask for additional information and waited until the last minute for a continuation. Eventually, Brown withdrew as counsel, adversely impacting his client.
He first ran for office in 2024 for the Eighth Congressional seat and finished fourth in a field of six candidates, well behind Mark Harris and Allan Baucom. He announced his Senate campaign with a goal of taking on Sen. Thom Tillis, who is no longer running.
Recently, Brown questioned President Trump’s decision to endorse Michael Whatley over him. In response to questions about why he is not following President Trump’s lead in the North Carolina Senate race, Brown gave a long statement claiming that he supports Trump’s policies and then criticized Trump’s personnel decisions. Brown concluded by saying, “I have great respect for the President. But I don’t. He could have probably vetted this one a little bit more.”
Additionally, Brown criticized the Trump administration’s handling of the Epstein case.
Campaign Finance Reports Reveal Troubling Signs
A look at Brown’s Second Quarter campaign finance report reveals deep problems for his candidacy. He only raised $69,514.27 and spent $26,706. His campaign only has $43,639.65 cash on hand, and $8,800 in debt. This is not where Brown needs to be in terms of fundraising to run a serious campaign.
Even more troubling, Brown’s digital fundraising team, Frontline Strategies, stopped working for his campaign. Here is a statement from hid old digital fundraising team, “Frontline ended its work with Don Brown’s Senate campaign well before President Trump’s endorsement and Chairman Michael Whatley’s announcement. In fact, Frontline was honored to help our friends on the Whatley campaign during their launch and remain committed to assisting them to ensure he becomes North Carolina’s next senator.”
His campaign's only other non-operating expenditure was to Chapel Hill-based Southern Pines Strategies for “general campaign consulting.” North Carolina Secretary of State records named Noel Fritsch as the owner. Fritsch is most widely known as the founder and publisher of National File.
No other major group was listed on his campaign finance report.
Tim’s Take: As of right now, Brown is not running a serious campaign for Senate, but that has not stopped legacy media from highlighting his run. This is how legacy media outlets work to divide Republicans by elevating non-credible candidates. Brown has been featured in legacy media coverage of WRAL, News and Observer, NC Newsline, and other legacy outlets across the state.
Brown is not running a serious campaign, but legacy outlets like to elevate him to divide Republicans. If they wanted treat Republicans and Democrats the same, they would highlight Cooper’s primary challenger Orrick Quick.
