Former Democratic Rep. Wiley Nickel challenging Tillis in NC
Former Rep. Wiley Nickel (D-N.C.) is running for Senate to try to unseat North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis (R) next year in the Tar Heel State, he announced Wednesday.
Nickel, who previously represented North Carolina's 13th Congressional District in the House for one term, is the first Democrat to get in the race. Tillis's seat will be a top target for Democrats to flip in 2026.
Nickel made the announcement in a post on the social platform X, saying President Trump is 'shredding our Constitution and tanking our economy.'
'Thom Tillis lacks the courage to stand up to him — I'll be damned if I'm going to sit on the sidelines,' Nickel said. 'I'm running to fight for a better future for North Carolinians.'
Nickel was first elected to the House in 2022 but chose not to run for reelection last year after the Republican-led North Carolina Legislature revised the state's district map and made the 13th District considerably more friendly to Republican candidates. Nickel argued the GOP 'rigged the system' in its favor.
'Extreme Republicans knew they couldn't beat him at the ballot box, so they redrew the maps so that he couldn't run again,' Nickel's campaign website reads. 'But Wiley has never been one to back down from a fight. He's running for Senate to continue the work he started in Congress: protecting social security and Medicaid, fighting inflation, and working with members of both parties to lower the cost of living for North Carolina families.'
Nickel's decision is not a surprise, as he hinted as early as his decision not to run for another House term that he may seek Tillis's seat.
Nickel may face competition for the Democratic nomination if former North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper (D) chooses to run for the seat as he has expressed interest in doing. Cooper was a popular two-term governor of the state who won his elections even as Trump carried his state in the presidential races, and Democrats have expressed enthusiasm about the prospect of him running.
In the video announcing his candidacy, Nickel called Tillis a 'rubber stamp' for Trump and said the state needs a 'fighter.' He mentioned his background working in the Obama White House, starting a business in North Carolina and running for state Senate to advocate for abortion rights, voting rights and better pay for teachers.
He noted that he won a tough House race in 2022 and worked on affordable housing, health care and ending gerrymandering.
'This is a moment for a new generation of leadership with a fresh vision and the courage to fight for what's right,' Nickel said.
Senate Republicans' campaign arm slammed Nickel in a statement as a 'far-left radical.'
'He's so out-of-touch he chose to retire instead of facing voters in a tough election year, and he will be rejected by North Carolina voters in 2026,' said spokesperson Joanna Rodriguez.
North Carolina will be one of Democrats' two main targets for flipping next year along with Maine, where Sen. Susan Collins (R) is up for reelection. The nonpartisan election handicapper Cook Political Report rates the North Carolina race as 'lean Republican.'
Updated: 2:44 p.m. ET
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
6 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Wisconsin Democratic Convention, new party chair to be elected
The Brief Wisconsin Democrats will elect a new party chair at this year's state convention. Ben Wikler is credited with transforming the party into a fundraising powerhouse. The convention may provide insight into whether Evers intends to run for reelection. MILWAUKEE - Wisconsin Democrats will elect a new party chair at this year's state convention, which runs Saturday and Sunday. What's next Delegates will decide who will succeed WisDems Chair Ben Wikler. In April, the party announced that he would not seek a fourth term. He was first elected in 2019. FREE DOWNLOAD: Get breaking news alerts in the FOX LOCAL Mobile app for iOS or Android Wikler is credited with transforming the party into a fundraising powerhouse that helped lead to some big wins for Democrats statewide during his tenure – including successful reelection campaigns for Gov. Tony Evers and U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin. >>IMAGE>> Three candidates, Glendale Mayor Bryan Kennedy among them, have emerged to succeed Wikler. Sarah Abel, WisDems executive director, said whoever wins will have big shoes to fill. "I think the qualities that each of these candidates bring are similar. They have knowledge of how to run and win elections. They have some knowledge when it comes to fundraising, and they have knowledge when it comes to messaging and media," she said. "I think those are the really core things, understanding our organizing and our county parties, who are the backbone of this state party, is really important, and I think all three candidates understand that." Republican Party of Wisconsin Chair Brian Schimming was reelected to his second term in December. The convention could also provide insight into whether Gov. Tony Evers intends to run for reelection. Evers has repeatedly said he won't make a decision about whether to run for a third term in 2026 until after the upcoming state budget is done. Earlier this month, Senate Republicans said they were confident the Legislature would pass a budget that Evers would sign into law. SIGN UP TODAY: Get daily headlines, breaking news emails from FOX6 News Abel said she is hopeful the governor will decide to run for a third term. "I'm not going to question his decisions on when he should be making those decisions," she said. "I certainly hope he will run again. He's been an incredible leader for this state and for our party. And you know, we're looking to our entire convention theme is 'Road to 2026.' We're looking to flip the state House and state Senate to give him partners to work with, so we can hopefully finally pass some legislation." Evers is listed as the final speaker before a keynote address on Saturday night. The Source FOX6 News interviewed Abel and referenced an Associated Press report for this story.
San Francisco Chronicle
an hour ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
Takeaways from AP's investigation of US death benefits program for public safety officers
A federal program that provides benefits to families of police officers and firefighters who die and become disabled on duty is rapidly growing while facing criticism for increasing delays in deciding claims. Congress created the Public Safety Officers' Benefits program in 1976 to guarantee that the spouses and children of officers who put their lives on the line would receive financial support. But repeated expansions in eligibility approved by Congress, including three passed in the last five years, have made the program more popular and complex to administer. Critics say the program fails some families by taking too long to grant or deny benefits and making inconsistent rulings. An Associated Press analysis found that hundreds of families are waiting years to learn whether they qualify for payments, and more are ultimately being denied. For one widow, payment came just as she'd given up hope New Jersey widow Sharline Volcy learned this month that she'd been awarded the benefits, more than 3 1/2 years after her husband, Ronald Donat, died while training at the Gwinnett County Police Academy in Georgia. Volcy said she was grateful for the aid, which will provide some financial security and help pay for her two daughters to go to college. But she said the long wait was stressful, when she was told time and again the claim remained under review and ultimately saw her inquiries ignored. 'They told me they didn't know how long it would take because they don't have a deadline. That's the hardest thing to hear,' she said. 'I felt defeated.' She said lawyers didn't want to take the case, and a plea for help to her congressperson went nowhere. She said she'd given up hope and was lucky she had a job as an airport gate agent in the meantime. The benefits program isn't meeting its timeframe goal Volcy's experience isn't unique, and some cases take longer. As of late April, more than 120 claims by surviving relatives or disabled first responders have been awaiting initial determinations or rulings on their appeals for more than five years, according AP's findings. About a dozen have waited over a decade for an answer. The program has a goal of making determinations within one year but has not taken steps to track its progress, according to a recent Government Accountability Office report. But roughly three in 10 cases have not met that timeframe in recent years. As of late late April, 900 claims had been pending longer than one year. That includes claims from nearly every state. Republican lawmakers have introduced a bill to require the program to make determinations within 270 days. The denial rate for benefits is up, too Over the last year, the denial rate has increased, with roughly one in three death and disability claims getting rejected. Applicants can appeal to a hearing officer and then the director if they choose, but that isn't common. Many say they can't afford attorneys or want to get on with their lives. Justice Department officials, who oversee the program, say they're making complicated decisions about whether cases meet legal criteria. 'Death and disability claims involving complex medical and causation issues, voluminous evidence and conflicting medical opinions, take longer to determine, as do claims in various stages of appeal,' they said in a statement. Claims have doubled in recent years The program started as a simple $50,000 payout for the families of officers who were fatally shot on duty or died as a result of other violence or dangers. But Congress expanded the program in 1990 to cover some first responders who were disabled on duty, which made some determinations harder to reach. A 1998 law added educational benefits for the spouses and children of those deceased and disabled officers. Since 2020, Congress has passed three laws making many other types of deaths and disabilities eligible, including deaths related to COVID-19, deaths and injuries of those working rescue and cleanup operations after the September 2001 attacks, and responders who committed suicide under certain circumstances. Annual claims have more than doubled in the last five years, from 500 in 2019 to roughly 1,200 today. Critics say a key partnership creates a conflict of interest While many applicants have criticized the increasing delays, the leading group that represents the relatives of officers who die on duty has been silent. Critics say that's because the group, Concerns of Police Survivors, has a financial incentive not to criticize the program, which has awarded it tens of millions of dollars in grant funding in recent decades. The Missouri-based nonprofit recently received a new $6 million grant from the program to for its work with deceased officers' relatives, including counseling, hosting memorial events, educating agencies about the program and assisting with claims. The group's founder and retired executive director, Suzie Sawyer, said she was warned many years ago that fighting too hard for claimants could jeopardize its grant funding. But current spokesperson Sara Slone said advocacy isn't the group's mission and that it works 'hand in hand' with PSOB to assist applicants and provide education about benefits. One widow's fight has been remarkable, supporters say Lisa Afolayan's husband died after a training exercise at the Border Patrol academy more than 16 years ago, but she's still fighting the program for benefits. An autopsy found that Nate Afolayan died from heat illness after completing a 1.5-mile test run in 88 degree heat, at a high altitude in the New Mexico desert. The program had awarded benefits to families after similar training deaths, dating back to an officer who died at an academy in 1988. But its independent investigation blamed Nate's death on sickle cell trait, a genetic condition that's usually benign but has been linked to rare exertion-related deaths in police, military and sports training. The program denied Lisa's claim and her subsequent appeals, arguing the death wasn't the result of heat along and didn't qualify. The program stood by its denial in 2024, even after a federal appeals court said it may have failed to adequately consider the weather's role and violated a law barring discrimination on the basis of genetic information.
Hamilton Spectator
an hour ago
- Hamilton Spectator
Doug Ford returning to U.S. to fight Donald Trump's tariffs
Premier Doug Ford and his counterparts from the Atlantic provinces are headed stateside to promote trade with New England governors. Ford, who quietly met with Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp last week at Queen's Park, has been stepping up the lobbying of U.S. leaders against President Donald Trump's tariffs on Canadian goods. 'You can keep tariffing everything, but it's hurting the American people,' the premier told a Toronto business conference last Monday. That's a reference to the fact that U.S. companies importing products from Canada are already passing along their higher costs to consumers. Ford also noted Ontario alone does $500 billion in annual two-way trade with the U.S., and the province is the largest trading partner with 17 of America's 50 states. 'I've had an opportunity to speak to many governors and senators and congresspeople — Republicans or Democrats … (and) every single person I speak to says we can't pick a fight with everyone in the world — and especially you can't pick a fight with your number-one customer,' he said. 'We need to move on.' Along with another wave of appearances on American cable news shows to underscore the importance of trade with Canada, the premier is moving to further strengthen ties with state governors. To that end, Ford, Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston, New Brunswick Premier Susan Holt, Newfoundland and Labrador Premier John Hogan and Prince Edward Island Premier Rob Lantz will be in Boston on Monday. The premiers will be meeting with Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey, Maine Gov. Janet Mills, Rhode Island Gov. Dan McKee, Vermont Gov. Phil Scott and Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont. During last winter's provincial election campaign, which the governing Progressive Conservatives successfully framed as a referendum on which party could best deal with Trump, Ford twice visited Washington, D.C., to lobby U.S. lawmakers.
