Former Democratic North Carolina Rep. Wiley Nickel said Wednesday that he is looking to oust Republican North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis from his seat in 2026.
Nickel announced his candidacy in a post on X, claiming that he is running “to fight for a better future for North Carolinians.” Notably, North Carolina’s 2026 Senate race is projected to be one of the most highly-competitive races in the 2026 midterm elections.
“[President Donald] Trump is shredding our Constitution and tanking our economy,” Nickel wrote in the social media post. “Thom Tillis lacks the courage to stand up to him — I’ll be damned if I’m going to sit on the sidelines.”
Tillis was first elected to serve in the Senate in 2014. His seat is seen as a potential pickup opportunity for the Democratic Party as part of their broader effort to take back control of the Senate in the 2026 midterms.
“When the chips are down, Thom Tillis lays down for the billionaires, for the extremists, for policies that hurt North Carolina,” Nickel said in the announcement video. “This is a moment for a new generation of leadership with a fresh vision and the courage to fight for what’s right. And that’s exactly what I’ll do in the U.S. Senate.”
Like several Democrats, the former congressman pledged to protect Social Security and Medicaid if he is elected, though both Trump and Republican lawmakers have repeatedly said the programs will not be altered, and the president has even floated eliminating taxes on Social Security benefits.
Nickel was elected to represent North Carolina’s 13th Congressional District in 2022. In December 2023, Nickel decided not to seek reelection after congressional redistricting led by Republican state legislators made the district considerably more favorable for GOP candidates.
Nickel could potentially face hefty competition for the Democratic nomination if former Democratic North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper jumps into the Senate race. Cooper has been floated as a potential top contender for the state’s Senate seat, with many Democrats expressing enthusiasm over the prospect of him making a bid.
Democratic North Carolina Attorney General Jeff Jackson is also reportedly seen as a potential contender in his state’s 2026 Senate race.
Tillis’ Senate seat is rated “lean Republican,” according to a February analysis from the Cook Political Report. Notably, the Democratic Party has not held a Senate seat in North Carolina since former Democratic North Carolina Sen. Kay Hagan lost in 2014.
Trump won North Carolina in the 2024 presidential election, notching 51.0% of the vote to former Vice President Kamala Harris’ 47.8%.
“Wiley Nickel is a radical left-wing trial lawyer who was a rubber stamp for [former President] Joe Biden’s failed liberal agenda, and he is running for Senate to be a rubber stamp for the liberal agenda of [Senate Minority Leader] Chuck Schumer, [Democratic Vermont Sen.] Bernie Sanders and [Democratic Massachusetts Sen.] Elizabeth Warren,” Abby Roesch, Tillis’ Senate campaign manager, said in a statement shared with the Daily Caller News Foundation. “Every vote he casts will be bought and paid for by his Democratic Party bosses and the fringe left-wing special interest groups that will bankroll his campaign.”
“Senator Tillis has a proven record of delivering results for North Carolinians, from working with President Trump to pass historic tax relief to working across the aisle to bring billions of disaster aid to North Carolina families and businesses,” Roesch added. “Next year, the choice for North Carolinians will be between a radical liberal trial lawyer and a commonsense conservative problem solver. We are ready for the fight.”
When reached for comment, Nickel’s campaign referred the DCNF to his candidacy announcement.
Editor’s note: This story has been updated with comment from Tillis’ campaign.
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