News: Former Rep. Wiley Nickel (D-N.C.) will announce today that he’s going to challenge Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) for his Senate seat in 2026.
Nickel, who served in the House from 2023 to 2025, also served in the North Carolina state senate. Wiley was redistricted out of his seat by Republicans.
The big question hanging over this race is whether former Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper gets in the race against Tillis. Cooper would be the favorite in the Tarheel State. In a midterm election, Democrats will be competitive.
Lone Star State. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced Tuesday night on Fox News that he would challenge Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas).
Cornyn, who was first elected in 2002, narrowly lost a race for Senate Republican leader in November. Cornyn’s campaign pushed back hard on Paxton’s announcement.
We interviewed Paxton about his Senate ambitions last month.
