As the December 19 filing deadline for the 2026 North Carolina primary closed, one name on the list sent shockwaves through the state’s Republican Party: Zaynab Bilal. Filing for the U.S. Senate seat currently held by Thom Tillis, Bilal enters a crowded field that includes heavyweight Michael Whatley, the former RNC chair. However, unlike Whatley or other established candidates, Bilal has no history with the party she now seeks to represent.
A deep dive into public records reveals a pattern that many are calling a textbook case of "primary sabotage." Bilal’s voter registration history shows a consistent participation in Democratic primaries for years. Despite her sudden party switch, she has no record of donating to Republican causes, attending local GOP precinct meetings, or even expressing conservative viewpoints publicly. In an era where candidates live and breathe on social media, Bilal is a "digital ghost." She has no campaign website, no Twitter presence, and no stated policy positions.
The "how" of her candidacy is equally suspicious. In North Carolina, filing for a U.S. Senate seat requires either a significant fee or thousands of signatures. For a candidate with zero visible campaign infrastructure or volunteer base to meet these requirements suggests a level of behind-the-scenes backing that remains hidden from the public eye.
Trojan Horse at the Ballot Box
The tactic of "primary raiding" or "raiding the ballot" is a well-known, if unethical, political maneuver. The strategy is simple: an opposition party or a deep-pocketed donor group recruits a candidate to run in the rival's primary. The goal is to either split the vote, ensuring a weaker candidate wins the nomination, or to create a media narrative that distracts and demoralizes the party's base.
"We are looking at a potential Trojan Horse," said one Raleigh-based political strategist. "When you have a candidate who wears a niqab—a very specific and visible cultural marker—but has a lifelong history of voting for the other side, it raises questions about whether her candidacy is a stunt designed to bait Republicans into a controversy that the mainstream media can then exploit."
This lack of vetting is a major concern for the GOP, which is currently focused on a "peace through strength" platform under the national leadership of President Trump. While the Trump-endorsed Michael Whatley remains the frontrunner, the presence of Bilal on the ballot creates a wildcard. If she can siphon off even a small percentage of votes from the fringe, she could theoretically tilt the scales in a close primary.
Who is Funding the Sabotage?
The most glaring question is the "why." Why would a person with no conservative ties and a history of Democratic support choose to run for one of the most powerful seats in the country as a Republican? And more importantly, who is paying for it?
The Gateway Pundit and local activists have pointed out that "ghost candidates" are often used as pawns in larger political games. In past election cycles, similar candidates have been linked to dark money groups and even "loyalty enforcers" from the opposition party who seek to muddy the waters of a clean primary.
As of late December, Bilal has yet to hold a press conference or even release a basic bio. For North Carolina voters, the choice is becoming clear: either Bilal is a unprecedentedly quiet political convert, or she is the face of a coordinated effort to sabotage the Republican primary from within. With the March primary fast approaching, the pressure is on for the state board of elections to ensure that "ghosts" are not allowed to haunt the integrity of the ballot.
Sources: North Carolina State Board of Elections (NCSBE), The Gateway Pundit, Carolina Journal, WUNC News, Ballotpedia 2026 Candidate Filings.
