North Carolina GOP Senate Nominee Michael Whatley Faces Scrutiny After Convicted Sex Offender Delivers Rally Prayer

A recent campaign appearance by North Carolina Republican Senate nominee Michael Whatley has come under intense scrutiny after an opening invocation was delivered by a registered sex offender who has served two prison terms for offenses involving children.

The prayer was given by Pastor Daimon L. King during a late-August campaign stop. In his remarks, King petitioned for divine favor to grant honesty and integrity to the gathering while calling for a reversal of grievances directed against the broader conservative movement.

State and judicial records confirm that King is a registered sex offender who was previously incarcerated twice following convictions tied to child offenses. Decades earlier, while working as a high school marching band assistant in the area surrounding Raleigh, King faced charges of statutory rape and indecent liberties.

The controversial appearance occurred at a pivotal juncture in one of the country's most closely watched Senate contests. With the general election approaching, the outcome in North Carolina is anticipated to be a major factor in determining which political party commands the majority in the U.S. Senate.

The revelation poses a direct challenge to Whatley's campaign strategy against his Democratic rival, former Governor Roy Cooper. Throughout the race, Whatley has attempted to frame Cooper as weak on criminal justice issues, a core message that may now be compromised by the presence of a convicted offender at his event.

Furthermore, the episode could intensify an aggressive advertising campaign already launched by Democrats. Those advertisements have heavily focused on Whatley's prior connections to Harvey L. West Jr., a former Republican Party official who is also a convicted sex offender.

In response to inquiries regarding the prayer, the Whatley campaign refused requests to make the candidate available for an interview. However, campaign representative DJ Griffin issued a formal statement seeking to distance the nominee from the pastor, asserting that Whatley had no personal acquaintance with King.

Griffin maintained that the gathering was neither coordinated nor scheduled by Whatley's official campaign apparatus. He stated that the campaign did not extend invitations to the attendees and specified that King had been invited solely by the event's organizers, the Craven County Republican Party.

Neither King nor leaders within the Craven County Republican organization responded to requests seeking comment on the incident.

Whatley entered the Senate contest with substantial backing from Donald Trump, having previously served as the chairman of the North Carolina Republican Party from 2019 to 2024. He was subsequently tapped to chair the Republican National Committee before resigning that national leadership role at Trump's request to run for the Senate seat.

Political analysts suggest that the incident could hinder Whatley's efforts to solidify enthusiasm among hard-right elements of the electorate. Chris Cooper, a political science professor at Western Carolina University who shares no family relation with the Democratic candidate, noted that the candidate is already struggling to unify that wing of the party.

Professor Cooper observed that conservative grassroots voters have grown increasingly sensitized to issues surrounding sexual abuse, particularly following public outrage over the government's handling of the Jeffrey Epstein matter that prompted federal legislation releasing related case files. According to the professor, the latest developments are likely to deepen skepticism among far-right voters who have not fully rallied behind Whatley's bid.

The rally took place on August 28 at the Craven County Republican Party headquarters situated in the coastal community of New Bern. In addition to Whatley, the gathering featured Dr. Mehmet Oz, the former television host who now oversees the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services under the Trump administration.

King has carved out a visible profile in regional conservative politics, operating as a precinct chairman within the Craven County GOP and identifying publicly as a pro-Trump Black conservative. He leads the New Beginnings Celebration church in New Bern and frequently uses YouTube sermons to praise Trump, criticize mainstream media, and share religious messages.

Following the rally, Whatley's campaign published video footage on social platform X showing King positioned directly behind Whatley and Oz as the two figures spoke out against fraud within the healthcare sector. Throughout the footage, King can be seen signaling approval and giving double thumbs-up gestures.

The day after the gathering, King posted enthusiastic praise for the rally in a social media group for his congregation. Describing the environment as filled with patriotic sentiment and prayer, King affirmed that he and his church members stand firmly in support of Whatley's candidacy.