North Carolina Republicans face a three-way U.S. Senate primary between RNC Chair Michael Whatley, attorney and former Navy JAG Don Brown, and newcomer Elizabeth Temple. With semi-closed primaries allowing Independents to choose which party ballot to vote on, unaffiliated voters could heavily influence the GOP outcome. Republicans have four months to rally around a candidate who can defeat Governor Roy Cooper in November and must turn out strongly in both the primary and general elections.