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The Hill
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Hill
Wiley Nickel suspends NC Senate bid, endorses Cooper
Former Rep. Wiley Nickel (D-N.C.) is ending his campaign for North Carolina's Senate seat and endorsing Roy Cooper, a day after the former governor launched his much-anticipated bid. Nickel said in a statement on X on Tuesday that working alongside Cooper while he served in the state Senate and in Congress was an 'honor,' and Cooper's 'steady, bipartisan leadership' has made a difference. 'And for many of us, including me, he's been an inspiration to step up and serve,' Nickel said. 'I proudly endorse Roy Cooper for US Senate and look forward to doing everything I can to help him flip this Senate seat from red to blue.' Nickel's decision was expected after Democrats notched a major recruitment win in getting their ideal candidate to run for the seat held by retiring Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.). Cooper brings a long background in North Carolina politics and a track record as a popular former two-term governor. Nickel entered the race months earlier, before Tillis announced he wouldn't seek another term in office, but Democrats' eyes had been on Cooper, seeing him as their best chance of flipping the seat. Cooper said in his announcement video that he 'never really' wanted to go to Washington, D.C., and only wanted to serve the people of North Carolina in his own state, but the times required him to run. Nickel served one term in the House before he decided against running for reelection after redistricting made his district much more conservative leaning. He said in his statement that he still has 'a lot of work left to do.' 'Public service is part of who I am and you'll hear more from me soon,' he said. Semafor reported that Nickel is considering a bid for district attorney in Wake County. The Republican primary to try to succeed Tillis is still forming, but Republican National Committee Chair Michael Whatley is expected to enter the race soon with backing from President Trump. This would come after Trump's daughter-in-law, Lara Trump, decided against running for the seat despite speculation that she would. With Trump's support and Whatley being one of the top GOP officials in the country, he would be a clear favorite for the Republican nomination. The race for the seat is also expected to be tight in the battleground state. Democrats haven't won a Senate seat in North Carolina since 2008, but they've had more success on the state level and are hoping Cooper is the right candidate to finally get over the hurdle.
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
26-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
37 House Dems vote with GOP to deport illegal immigrant drunk drivers
A bill to deport illegal immigrants convicted of driving while under the influence (DUI) netted the support of 37 House Democrats on Thursday. The bill was introduced by conservative Rep. Barry Moore, R-Ala., and passed by a 246 to 160 vote. No Republican voted against the bill, and it was opposed by 160 Democrats. Democrats who voted for the legislation include Rep. Jim Himes, D-Conn., the top Democrat on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, as well as moderate Reps. Tom Suozzi, D-N.Y., Jared Golden, D-Maine, Laura Gillen, D-N.Y., Don Davis, D-N.C., and Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, D-Wash., among others. 148 Democrats Back Noncitizen Voting In Dc As Gop Raises Alarm About Foreign Agents "Today's vote in the House sends a clear message: if you are a guest in this country, and you break our laws and put American lives at risk by driving under the influence, there will be consequences," Moore said. Read On The Fox News App The bill is named after Jeremy and Angel Seay, a couple from Moore's own community who were killed by an illegal immigrant who was found to have been drunk driving, Moore said. It's also named after slain Arizona police officer Brandon Mendoza, who was killed by an illegal immigrant found to have been driving under the influence. Republicans Challenge 'Irrelevant' Budget Office As It Critiques Trump's 'Beautiful Bill' Democrats who opposed the bill argued it was an attempt at fearmongering. "I participated in the judiciary hearings that led to this bill being sent to the floor, and I carefully reviewed the majority report. There's absolutely no evidence in that hearing or report showing a causal connection between immigration status and drunk driving," Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon, D-Pa., said when the House Rules Committee debated the bill earlier this week. "And most notably, for all this talk, this legislation takes no real meaningful action to repair our broken immigration system." But Moore said he was "amazed" that 160 Democrats voted against the bill. "It just shows that if it comes to anything about holding illegal immigrants accountable, even if it's killing our own people in drunk driving cases, they're against any kind of reforms on immigration," Moore said. House Democrats' senior leadership are among the 160 who voted against the bill, including House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y. The legislation would have to be taken up by the Senate and then signed into law by President Donald Trump to go into article source: 37 House Dems vote with GOP to deport illegal immigrant drunk drivers
Yahoo
23-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
At Pittsboro town hall, US Rep. Valerie Foushee warns of 'constitutional crisis' facing America
Rep. Valerie Foushee (D-N.C.) speaks to voters at the historic Chatham County Courthouse. (Photo: Brandon Kingdollar/NC Newsline) North Carolina Congresswoman Valerie Foushee (D-NC4) condemned the Trump administration at a Pittsboro town hall Tuesday evening for carrying out a 'campaign to undermine the very foundations of our democracy.' Foushee was joined by fellow Democrats, Rep. Robert T. Reives II, the minority leader of the state House of Representatives, and Karen Howard, the chair of the Chatham County Board of Commissioners, at a gathering that brought around 100 of their constituents to the historic Chatham County Courthouse for a little over an hour. Unlike high profile town halls held by Republicans around the U.S., Foushee's event drew a largely friendly, if anxious, crowd. Questions focused on steps she and other Democrats were taking to resist the Trump administration's cuts to funding for education, scientific research, and social services. Foushee spent most of the event taking aim at President Donald Trump and the Republican-controlled Congress, condemning efforts to 'target our rights, gut governmental protections, defund public education, criminalize immigrants and asylum seekers, weaken worker protections, and slash social safety net programs.' 'What we are currently facing is truly unprecedented. The stakes are high, and the urgency is real. This is a moment where we all need to show up, speak out, and stand together,' Foushee said. 'The American people cannot afford this extreme agenda, and frankly, our democracy cannot afford this extreme agenda either. Our country is facing a constitutional crisis, one that demands urgent action.' She added that she was particularly concerned by threats to the legitimacy of elections, telling the audience that 'nothing hurt more' in the first 100 days than the House passage of the SAVE Act — a measure to require proof of citizenship at polling places that voting rights advocacy groups warn could disenfranchise millions of legal voters. Foushee invoked the ongoing legal challenge by losing state Supreme Court candidate Jefferson Griffin as another attack on election integrity. 'We have to protect the right to vote because we know what is coming forward to some make sure that some folk are not given access to the ballot box,' Foushee said. 'We have to stand up against those types of legislation.' Among the audience members who spoke was a teacher at the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics who asked what he should tell the aspiring scientists in his classes amid the administration's broad cuts to research and education. In response, Rep. Reives said these efforts are evidence that Republican officials and their donors are 'scared to death of an educated populace,' and that it's critical to stay focused on the importance of education amid attempts to distract from those issues in the coming years. 'There's one group of people in the entire country who are trying to stop everybody else from achieving an American dream, and that are the wealthy billionaires that have taken over your government,' Reives said. 'Somehow, they have convinced themselves that, God help us, if you get an education, if you're healthy and you get a chance to work, that somehow they're going to lose that billion dollars before they die.' Howard, the county commission chair, said the most important thing attendees of the town hall could do is act as 'ambassadors' to their friends and neighbors so that they fully understand the consequences of the election. She invited the NCSSM teacher to bring her letters from his class about what education opportunities mean to them that she can deliver in an upcoming meeting with U.S. Senators Thom Tillis and Ted Budd. 'We need to broaden our tent, and we need to start reaching out to people that can hear us,' Howard said. 'Every single person in every single audience that you ever sit in has somebody that will listen to them, someone who believes them, someone who trusts them.' Reives cited the ongoing tribulations surrounding Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth as proof that just a few lawmakers willing to resist Trump could make a substantial difference, noting that Tillis cast the deciding vote that allowed him to be confirmed. 'Could you have gotten a better secretary?' he asked, drawing laughter from the town hall audience. After the event, Durham resident Joe English said his respect for Reives was 'greatly improved' after hearing him speak so emphatically about democracy and the crises facing the U.S. 'To see the three of them interplay was phenomenal. This is what I needed,' English said. He said while he would have liked to see more attendance, it was good to see Foushee holding an in-person discussion with constituents — adding that he was pleased when she did not attend Trump's inauguration as a show of defiance. Gary Simpson and Connie McAdams, local activists and members of Pittsboro Presbyterian Church, said they had tried to meet with Tillis earlier in the day but could only speak to a staffer in his office. Though they didn't know about Foushee's town hall in advance, they were able to get in at the last minute. 'I just applaud Valerie Foushee for doing this and giving people a chance to interact with her, and I appreciate her listening and trying to answer those hard questions,' McAdams said. 'Everything is tough, and I appreciate her working as hard as she can in tough circumstances to make things better for all of us.' Foushee's take-home message was that while she and other Democrats can vote against the Trump administration's agenda, it's up to engaged citizens to vote out officials supporting his initiatives and to convince the people in their lives to do the same — a call to action that drew applause throughout the historic courtroom. 'Don't be surprised when that person does exactly what he said he would do. Nothing should surprise you except how quickly he was able to do it,' Foushee said. 'What you can do is to change the faces of the folks in the spaces that determine the future of this generation and the next generation and generations to come.'
Yahoo
09-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Former Democratic Rep. Wiley Nickel challenging Tillis in NC
Former Rep. Wiley Nickel (D-N.C.) is running for Senate to try to unseat North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis (R) next year in the Tar Heel State, he announced Wednesday. Nickel, who previously represented North Carolina's 13th Congressional District in the House for one term, is the first Democrat to get in the race. Tillis's seat will be a top target for Democrats to flip in 2026. Nickel made the announcement in a post on the social platform X, saying President Trump is 'shredding our Constitution and tanking our economy.' 'Thom Tillis lacks the courage to stand up to him — I'll be damned if I'm going to sit on the sidelines,' Nickel said. 'I'm running to fight for a better future for North Carolinians.' Nickel was first elected to the House in 2022 but chose not to run for reelection last year after the Republican-led North Carolina Legislature revised the state's district map and made the 13th District considerably more friendly to Republican candidates. Nickel argued the GOP 'rigged the system' in its favor. 'Extreme Republicans knew they couldn't beat him at the ballot box, so they redrew the maps so that he couldn't run again,' Nickel's campaign website reads. 'But Wiley has never been one to back down from a fight. He's running for Senate to continue the work he started in Congress: protecting social security and Medicaid, fighting inflation, and working with members of both parties to lower the cost of living for North Carolina families.' Nickel's decision is not a surprise, as he hinted as early as his decision not to run for another House term that he may seek Tillis's seat. Nickel may face competition for the Democratic nomination if former North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper (D) chooses to run for the seat as he has expressed interest in doing. Cooper was a popular two-term governor of the state who won his elections even as Trump carried his state in the presidential races, and Democrats have expressed enthusiasm about the prospect of him running. In the video announcing his candidacy, Nickel called Tillis a 'rubber stamp' for Trump and said the state needs a 'fighter.' He mentioned his background working in the Obama White House, starting a business in North Carolina and running for state Senate to advocate for abortion rights, voting rights and better pay for teachers. He noted that he won a tough House race in 2022 and worked on affordable housing, health care and ending gerrymandering. 'This is a moment for a new generation of leadership with a fresh vision and the courage to fight for what's right,' Nickel said. Senate Republicans' campaign arm slammed Nickel in a statement as a 'far-left radical.' 'He's so out-of-touch he chose to retire instead of facing voters in a tough election year, and he will be rejected by North Carolina voters in 2026,' said spokesperson Joanna Rodriguez. North Carolina will be one of Democrats' two main targets for flipping next year along with Maine, where Sen. Susan Collins (R) is up for reelection. The nonpartisan election handicapper Cook Political Report rates the North Carolina race as 'lean Republican.' Updated: 2:44 p.m. ET Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
