Nickel drops out of US Senate race, endorses Cooper

Former congressman Wiley Nickel has officially dropped out of the US Senate race and has endorsed former Gov. Roy Cooper, one day after he announced he was running for the Democratic nomination.

Nickel announced his intentions to run in April. He was elected to US House of Representatives, 13th Congressional District, in 2022. He decided not to seek re-election last year. Republican Brad Knott now represents the district. Before that, Nickel served two terms as a state Senator in NC-16.

“Today, I am suspending my campaign for US Senate and proudly endorsing Roy Cooper,” he said in a post on X. “It was an honor to work alongside Governor Cooper in the State Senate and in Congress. I’ve seen firsthand his steady bipartisan leadership.”

Today, I’m suspending my campaign for Senate and proudly endorsing @RoyCooperNC.

We started this campaign to send Thom Tillis packing. Well, mission accomplished I guess! pic.twitter.com/Og5bReyvdj

— Wiley Nickel (@WileyNickel) July 29, 2025

Nickel finishes his statement by saying that he still has a lot of work left to do, that public service is a part of who he is, and that “you’ll hear more from me soon.”

Reports say he is now considering running for the Democratic nomination for Wake County District Attorney. Current D.A. Lorrin Freeman, a Democrat, announced in May that she will not run for re-election in 2026.

Cooper, a Democrat who served two terms as governor from 2017 to 2025, is aiming to succeed Republican Sen. Thom Tillis, who recently announced he would not run for re-election. In a launch video, Cooper emphasized his record on education, health care, and economic development.

“I’ve spent my career fighting for North Carolina families — expanding Medicaid, raising teacher pay, and making our state a top destination for business and innovation,” Cooper said. “Now, I’m ready to take that fight to Washington.”

Earlier this month, US Rep. Don Davis, D-NC1, was also considering running for the seat being vacated by Republican US Sen. Thom Tillis.

However, given the former governor’s announcement and Nickel’s withdrawal from the race, that may not be feasible.

Cooper’s early entry into the race gives him a head start in fundraising and organizing, but he’s expected to face a formidable Republican opponent in Michael Whatley, former North Carolina GOP chair and co-chair of the Republican National Committee. Whatley has been endorsed by former President Donald Trump, who praised him as a “strong America First conservative.”

“Michael Whatley is a patriot who will never back down from the radical left,” Trump said in his endorsement.

Whatley has not formally launched his campaign, but Carolina Journal confirmed last week that an announcement is expected within the next few days.

Others who announced a run for the Republican nomination include former lieutenant governor candidate Andy Nilsson, and former congressional candidate Don Brown.

Cooper raises $3.4 million a day after his announcement

A day after his announcement, Cooper raised $3.4 million, a record-breaking amount for a Senate Democratic candidate. More than $2.6 million was raised directly to Cooper’s campaign account, with 95% of those donations totaling $100 or less, according to Politico. He also raised another $900,000 through joint fundraising committees with the party, which allows for bigger contributions.

The post Nickel drops out of US Senate race, endorses Cooper first appeared on Carolina Journal.

The post Nickel drops out of US Senate race, endorses Cooper appeared first on First In Freedom Daily.