In a move to support North Carolina’s tipped workers, Republican U.S. Senate candidate Michael Whatley held a campaign roundtable in Zebulon, advocating for the ‘No Tax on Tips’ initiative. Whatley emphasized the need for workers to retain more of their earnings, especially in challenging economic times.

Local Workers Share Their Struggles

During the event, workers who rely on tips shared their financial challenges with Whatley. Tres Malpass, a server from Raleigh, highlighted the difficulty of making ends meet when a significant portion of their income is taxed. ‘I’ve worked long hours only to take home $30, and it feels unfair to lose part of that to taxes,’ Malpass expressed.

Whatley stressed the importance of reducing the tax burden on workers, stating, ‘People want to take home more money. We want to focus on keeping their tax burden low here in Wake and everywhere else.’

Policy and Political Context

The push for tax relief on tips aligns with a broader Republican effort to reduce taxes. Last year, President Donald Trump signed the ‘One Big Beautiful Bill,’ which included federal tax cuts on tips. However, a similar state-level initiative has stalled in the legislature.

Whatley criticized his opponent, former Governor Roy Cooper, for his tax policies, accusing him of being pro-tax. ‘Roy Cooper would have voted against the bill that eliminated taxes on tips,’ Whatley claimed, contrasting their differing approaches to tax policy.

In response, Cooper’s campaign argued that Whatley’s policies would increase costs for families, while Cooper has a record of cutting taxes for working families.

Senate Race Dynamics

The Senate race is heating up as both candidates vie for the seat being vacated by Thom Tillis. Whatley’s focus on tax relief for tipped workers is part of his broader campaign strategy to appeal to working-class voters in North Carolina.

Original reporting: WRAL Raleigh — read the source article.