Nickel laying groundwork for 2026 US Senate run

Former U.S. Rep. Wiley Nickel has filed candidacy paperwork to run for U.S. Senate and is laying the groundwork to mount a campaign should ex-Gov. Roy Cooper decide not to run.

As Democrats wait to see whether former Gov. Roy Cooper runs to oust Republican Sen. Thom Tillis in 2026, one former congressman is waiting in the wings and developing something of a contingency plan should Cooper decide not to run.

Former Democratic U.S. Rep. Wiley Nickel didn’t seek reelection in 2024 after GOP state lawmakers redrew his tossup seat into a safe GOP district. Shortly thereafter, he filed candidacy paperwork to run for Senate in 2026.

Now, with the 2024 election in the rearview, Nickel is looking to the future.