Former Rep. Wiley Nickel ends Senate bid in North Carolina after Cooper's entry [View all]

Source: Roll Call

Posted July 29, 2025 at 5:18pm


Former North Carolina Rep. Wiley Nickel dropped his Senate campaign Tuesday, one day after former Gov. Roy Cooper, a fellow Democrat, launched his bid for the open seat. “Today, I’m suspending my campaign for Senate and proudly endorsing Roy Cooper,’’ Nickel said in a statement posted on social media.

Cooper’s entry into the race cheered national Democrats, who see the former governor – and six-time statewide winner – as their best candidate to flip the seat retiring Republican Sen. Thom Tillis is leaving behind. In his statement, Nickel praised Cooper and pledged to do “everything I can to help him flip this Senate seat from red to blue.”

Semafor reported last week that Nickel, a lawyer, is weighing a run for district attorney in Wake County, which is home to Raleigh. “I’ve still got a lot of work left to do,” he said in his statement. “Public service is a part of who I am and you’ll hear more from me soon.”

Nickel announced his Senate bid in early April, when Tillis was still in the race. “We started this campaign to send Thom Tillis packing. Well, mission accomplished I guess!” Nickel said on social media.

Read more: https://rollcall.com/2025/07/29/north-carolina-senate-election-wiley-nickel-2/