Trump is married to Eric Trump and has been a surrogate for the former president, making media appearances defending him and criticizing his successor, President Joe Biden.
The 38-year-old is considering mounting a campaign to succeed Republican Senator Richard Burr, according to an Associated Press (AP) report on Thursday. Burr will not seek reelection next year.
The AP article cites two people who have recently discussed the matter with Lara Trump but who spoke about their private conversations on condition of anonymity.
Trump is a former TV producer and Trump campaign adviser. There’s been speculation about her potential political ambitions in the recent weeks.
So far, Trump has not publicly said if she’ll pursue a Senate campaign. She’s originally from Wilmington, North Carolina but is not currently a resident in the state.
Trump would have to relocate in order to run next year. She and Eric Trump have young children. However, Lara Trump campaigned in North Carolina on behalf of the former president in 2016 and 2020 and is reportedly well-informed about its issues.
Speaking to Fox News’ Sean Hannity last week, Trump hinted that she could embark on a political career. Hannity noted the speculation about her future and asked her whether she was leaving the possibility open.
“Oh, absolutely,” Trump said. “Look, I’ve taken it very seriously and I have no decision to announce live here on Sean Hannity tonight. But I will tell you, stay tuned, because it is certainly something that I would be honored to do. So, I am keeping it open. Absolutely.”
Her comments followed remarks by Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC), who told Fox News on February 14 that he supported Trump to succeed Burr in the Senate.
“I certainly will be behind her because she represents the future of the Republican Party,” Graham said. “My dear friend Richard Burr, who I like and have been friends to a long time, just made Lara Trump almost the certain nominee for the Senate seat in North Carolina to replace him if she runs.”
Lara Trump is the latest focus of speculation about the Trump family’s political future. The former president has hinted at another presidential run, while his daughter Ivanka Trump ruled out a campaign for a Florida Senate seat.
There is currently only one declared candidate for the Republican Senate nomination in North Carolina—former Congressman Mark Walker. He’s publicly identified himself with former President Trump.
“I don’t think that’s any question at this point, if you pay attention to the political lens, that the Republican political party goes through Donald Trump in terms of his influence on the party as whole,” Walker said in an interview.
Burr won reelection in 2016 with 51 percent of the vote against his Democratic opponent’s 45.3 percent. The race to succeed him is expected to be hotly contested as it could determine control of the Senate. State Democrats are hoping to flip the seat, with three primary candidates already declared.
