Latest news with #Tillis
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Democrat Wiley Nickel may suspend NC Senate campaign: Reports
Former Rep. Wiley Nickel (D-N.C.), who launched his campaign for Senate in April, is now mulling whether to suspend his campaign and instead enter the race for an open district attorney position in Wake County, two local stations and Semafor reported Friday. A shift from Nickel would open up the Senate field for former Gov. Roy Cooper (D), who has not yet formally launched his campaign but is expected to do so next week, Axios reported. Many Democrats are hoping the former governor will run for the seat that is wide open after Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) announced he would not seek reelection. Nickel served one term in Congress, from 2022 to 2024, opting not to run again after his district was redrawn to heavily favor Republicans. Nickel is instead considering entering the race for the open district attorney position in Wake County, the state's most populous, WNCN and WRAL reported. Democrats are hoping North Carolina could be a prime pickup opportunity in the upcoming midterms. The party would need to flip four seats to gain control of the upper chamber. The general election is shaping up to be a showdown between Cooper and Republican National Committee Chair Michael Whatley, who is running with the blessing of President Trump. Tillis's successful reelection bid in 2020 became the most expensive race in Senate history after a close challenge from Democrat Cal Cunningham. The Republican senator announced he would not seek reelection in June after Trump mulled backing a challenger over Tillis's opposition to the 'big, beautiful bill.' After Tillis announced he would retire, the Cook Political Report rated the race a toss-up. Nickel did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Politico
2 days ago
- Politics
- Politico
Roy Cooper breaks fundraising records as he kicks off expensive North Carolina campaign
Republicans must also push back on Tillis' own concerns that 'the Medicaid cuts are a guillotine swinging over Republican necks right now,' the strategist continued, which 'if they end up being half as bad as Tillis says, that could be enough for Cooper to get over the finish line.' Tillis denounced Trump's megabill before its passage, attacking Republicans for 'betray[ing] the promise Donald Trump made' to voters and warning that 660,000 North Carolinians could lose their healthcare. Tillis voted against it, prompting Trump to threaten Tillis with a primary challenge. The next day, Tillis announced he wouldn't run for reelection . That's an opening Democrats are looking to exploit. Cooper, along with the Republican-controlled legislature, expanded Medicaid in 2023 . In an MSNBC interview Monday night , Cooper said it was 'such a contrast in this race,' emphasizing that 'Washington Republicans are going to strip it away.' 'Cooper staked his career on expanding Medicaid and 650,000 North Carolinians have it now because of him. He can work across the aisle to find solutions,' said Morgan Jackson, Cooper's top political strategist. 'I'm not sure Michael Whatley has met a swing voter, much less had a conversation with one.' Whatley, who hasn't formally launched his campaign, has his own hurdles. He's a first-time candidate who has never run for office, so he'll need a lot of money to build up his name recognition. Whatley, who served as the RNC chair and led the North Carolina GOP state party, comes with the full backing of Trump's political machine, after Trump's daughter-in-law Lara Trump ultimately passed on the seat. Trump's seal of approval and the RNC donor network 'may give Whatley enough money to turn Cooper into a generic Democrat,' said a second North Carolina Republican operative, granted anonymity to discuss the race candidly. 'But nobody knows who Whatley is either.' 'It's all going to come down to the money, and who can define who first,' the operative added. Calen Razor contributed to this report.
Newsweek
3 days ago
- Politics
- Newsweek
Republican Warns of 'Knife Fight' for Senate Seat as Roy Cooper Enters Race
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Outgoing Senator Thom Tillis, a North Carolina Republican, warned that the battle for his seat will be a "knife fight in a telephone booth" as former Democratic North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper threw his name into the race on Monday. Why It Matters The Senate election in North Carolina, a battleground roughly evenly divided between Democrats and Republicans, will likely be one of the most competitive races of the 2026 midterms, particularly after Tillis opted against running for another term. Historically, the party in the White House loses seats during the midterms, so Democrats are hopeful President Donald Trump's approval rating, which most polls suggest has dropped in recent months, could give them an advantage despite a challenging map. But federal races in North Carolina have proven elusive for Democrats, who have not won the state at either the Senate or presidential level since 2008. Cooper is viewed as a strong recruit for Democrats as he enjoyed strong approval ratings during his tenure leading the state. What To Know Cooper, who served as North Carolina's governor from 2017 to 2025 and previously held four terms as attorney general, ended months of speculation on Monday, and is now the latest candidate to seek the Democratic nomination for Tillis' seat. "I have thought on it and prayed about it, and I have decided: I am running to be the next U.S. Senator from North Carolina," Cooper said in a video posted to X. I have thought on it and prayed about it, and I have decided: I am running to be the next U.S. Senator from North Carolina. — Roy Cooper (@RoyCooperNC) July 28, 2025 Tillis spoke to the outlet NOTUS last week on the potential for Cooper to enter the race against Michael Whatley, the Republican National Committee (RNC) chair, who is endorsed by Trump but has yet to formally enter the race. "It's going to be a knife fight in a telephone booth," Tillis said about the potential match-up. NOTUS reported that Tillis also said he hopes Whatley is up for the challenge of running. Cooper has touted his record of bipartisan governance, Medicaid expansion in 2023, and efforts to raise teacher pay, while asserting that the stakes for the middle class, healthcare, and economic policy are higher than ever. Polling has shown a statistical tie between Cooper and a generic Republican candidate, with each side holding 48 percent support among likely voters, according to a recent survey from co/efficient. Senator Thom Tillis, a North Carolina Republican, takes the elevator at the U.S. Capitol Building on June 30 in Washington, D.C. Senator Thom Tillis, a North Carolina Republican, takes the elevator at the U.S. Capitol Building on June 30 in Washington, People Are Saying Political science professor at Columbia University, Robert Y. Shapiro, told Newsweek via email Monday: "I can only say the obvious: The Democrats were looking for him to run. He is seen as a more moderate Democrat and he has shown he can win a major election already in the state as governor. He was considered a possible vice-presidential running mate for Kamala Harris. So has the requisite political and governing experience to win another statewide election." President Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social on Thursday: "To the Great People of North Carolina, one of the most capable executives in our Country successfully ran, along with Lara Trump, the Republican National Committee. He happens to live in your incredible State, which I love, and won, including Primaries, six times in a row! My relationship with you has been fantastic, and only enhanced by the job I did after January 20th, when I took over the flood drenched areas that were abandoned by Sleepy Joe Biden and your Governor, and, through the infusion of money and hard work, fixed the problem like nobody else has the ability to do." He continued: "The one that energized that project, and so many more, was the Chairman of the RNC, Michael Whatley. I am sending this Statement out for a very good reason. Mike would make an unbelievable Senator from North Carolina. He is fantastic at everything he does, and he was certainly great at the RNC where, in the Presidential Election, we won every Swing State, the Popular Vote, and the Electoral College by a landslide! But I have a mission for my friends in North Carolina, and that is to get Michael Whatley to run for the U.S. Senate. He is STRONG on the Border, stopping Crime, supporting our Military/Veterans, cutting Taxes, and saving our always under siege Second Amendment." "I need him in Washington, and I need him representing YOU! Fortunately, I have somebody who will do a wonderful job as the Chairman of the RNC," Trump concluded. "His name is, Joe Gruters, and he will have my Complete and Total Endorsement. So, should Michael Whatley run for the Senate, please let this notification represent my Complete and Total Endorsement. HE WILL NEVER LET YOU DOWN!" What Happens Next? The primaries are scheduled for March 2026.
The Hill
3 days ago
- Politics
- The Hill
Roy Cooper enters North Carolina Senate race in win for Democrats
Former North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper (D) is entering the state's Senate race, a recruitment win for Democrats who hope that the popular former governor will give them a strong chance in one of the most competitive races next year. He announced his intention Monday morning in a social media post. Cooper's decision comes after significant speculation that he would enter after eight years as governor in the battleground state. He'll be trying to win the seat being vacated by retiring Sen. Thom Tillis (R), who announced last month that he wouldn't seek another term in office. Democrats were already hopeful about their chances of picking up the seat next year as Tillis was seen as potentially vulnerable. He seemed to potentially be on track to lose reelection in 2020 but pulled off a narrow victory after the Democratic candidate faced controversy stemming from an affair. But party members indicated they liked their chances even more after Tillis, who sought to develop a reputation as a more independent-minded member of the GOP, announced his retirement, particularly as Cooper seemed likely to enter the race. Cooper served an unprecedented four terms as state attorney general over 16 years before he unseated then-incumbent Gov. Pat McCrory (R) to be elected governor in 2016. He won that election and reelection in 2020, by a larger margin, despite President Trump carrying the state in the presidential election in both years. Cooper isn't the only candidate seeking the Democratic nomination. Former Rep. Wiley Nickel (D-N.C.) entered the race in April, while others like Rep. Don Davis (D-N.C.) have expressed interest in potentially running. But Democrats in the state previously said they expected Cooper would be the clear choice for the Democratic nomination if he runs. And Semafor reported that Nickel is exploring a possible run for district attorney in Wake County with Cooper as the favorite for the nomination. But despite Cooper's popularity, he still will face a challenge winning in a state where Democrats haven't won a Senate race since 2008. The party has seen more success in gubernatorial races, but they have frequently fallen short in federal contests despite hope for pulling off a win. The race for the GOP nomination initially seemed wide open with Tillis out, but Republican National Committee (RNC) Chair Michael Whatley is planning to run for the seat with support from Trump. The president's daughter-in-law, former RNC Co-Chair Lara Trump, had expressed interest in running, but she ruled out a bid for the seat in a post on X on Thursday. Her name had previously been floated as a possible Senate candidate, but she hasn't pursued it before. Whatley hasn't run for elected office before but led the state GOP for almost five years before being tapped to lead the national party. While a few other individuals have been rumored possible candidates, including Rep. Pat Harrigan (R-N.C.) and former Ambassador to Denmark James Cain, Whatley would likely have a clear advantage for the Republican nomination. The North Carolina Senate seat is one of the two main targets for Democrats next year along with the one held by Maine Sen. Susan Collins (R). They would realistically need to win both to have a chance at flipping the Senate in 2026 along with winning in states considered more of an uphill climb.
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Trump throws his support behind RNC Chair Michael Whatley for NC Senate seat
President Donald Trump has picked the candidate he's supporting to fill North Carolina's open Senate seat in the 2026 election: Michael Whatley. Whatley is a North Carolina native who served as head of the state's Republican Party before Trump selected him in 2024 as chairman of the Republican National Committee. On Thursday night, Trump posted on Truth Social that he wants 'friends in North Carolina' to 'get Michael Whatley to run for the U.S. Senate.' In giving Whatley his 'total endorsement,' he cited his efforts to get him elected in 2024, including wins in swing states, as reason for his support. 'Mike would make an unbelievable Senator from North Carolina,' Trump wrote. 'I need him in Washington.' Whatley is expected to step down as RNC chair to make his first run for office but has not officially done so. McClatchy confirmed Whatley's candidacy, first reported by Politico Thursday morning, with a Republican consultant helping to organize the campaign in North Carolina. Lara Trump, the president's daughter-in-law and Whatley's former RNC co-chair, said Thursday she would not pursue the seat. She is currently registered to vote in Florida and is a Fox News host. 'After much consideration and heartfelt discussions with my family, friends and supporters, I have decided not to pursue the United States Senate seat in North Carolina at this time,' Lara Trump wrote. 'I am deeply grateful for the encouragement and support I have received from people of my home state whom I love so much.' Whatley is expected to face off against retired businessman Andy Nilsson and former JAG officer Don Brown in the Republican primary. Trump, in his Thursday social media post, said he would support Florida State Sen. Joe Gruters as the new chair of the RNC. He is currently treasurer of the RNC and previously served as chair of the Florida Republican Party. NC Senate seat The 2026 Senate election already was expected to be one of the most-watched and most-expensive in the country before Sen. Thom Tillis unexpectedly dropped his bid for reelection in June. Tillis, a Republican from Huntersville, announced his reelection campaign late last year. But last month, Tillis signaled he wouldn't vote for the One Big Beautiful Bill Act over concerns it would harm North Carolina Medicaid recipients. Trump responded on social media to voice his discontent with Tillis' decision, saying it would be a 'big mistake.' He said he would look into supporting another candidate for the North Carolina seat. The next day, Tillis dropped out of the race. Tillis recently told McClatchy that he felt so strongly that the bill would harm North Carolina Medicaid recipients that he needed to take his campaign off the table as a potential bargaining chip. 'I thought it was a good time just to tell the president that he should start looking for a replacement,' Tillis said Wednesday. Tillis said those interviews for a replacement began about 10 minutes later. Former N.C. Gov. Roy Cooper, a Democrat, is expected to announce a run for Senate on Monday. Morgan Jackson, Cooper's adviser, wouldn't confirm media reports about the timing or the specifics of his announcement. In Trump's endorsement of Whatley Thursday, he referenced Cooper, though not by name. He said, without evidence that the 'flood drenched areas' of Western North Carolina were 'abandoned' after Hurricane Helene by President Joe Biden and 'your governor.' Cooper was governor when the remnants of the storm caused massive flooding and $59.6 billion of destruction. He visited the region several times in the aftermath, and a month after the storm, proposed a $3.9 billion Helene relief package for the General Assembly to consider. He pushed to expedite federal aid and also visited Washington to request $25.57 billion in federal funds to support North Carolina's recovery. Who is Michael Whatley? Whatley is a native of Watauga County, in the northwestern part of North Carolina. He has been involved in the political world most of his career. He worked in the Department of Energy during George W. Bush's administration. He became chief of staff for North Carolina Sen. Elizabeth Dole in 2004. From there he became vice president of the Consumer Energy Alliance and a lobbyist. In 2019, Whatley was named chairman of the North Carolina Republican Party, and helped lead Trump to a 2020 victory in the state, despite losing the election to Joe Biden. Whatley is a staunch supporter of the president and has echoed the false narrative that Trump won the 2020 election. Whatley led the state party when it censured Burr, a Republican from Winston-Salem, for voting to impeach Trump for his involvement in the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection.
