Former Rep. Wiley Nickel dropped his bid for North Carolina’s open Senate seat Tuesday and endorsed Roy Cooper,all but clearing the field for the former Democratic governor.
“I proudly endorse Governor Cooper for US Senate and look forward to doing everything I can to help him flip this Senate seat from red to blue,” said Nickel in a statement. “I’ve still got a lot of work left to do; that part hasn’t changed. Public service is a part of who I am and you’ll hear more from me soon.”
Cooper, who formally entered the race Monday, was heavily courted by Democrats, with many in the party seeing him as the most viable candidate for the seat being vacated by retiring Republican Sen. Thom Tillis. Another Democrat who had floated a run, Rep. Don Davis, is also leaning against a bid now that Cooper is in the race.
Most Democrats see the race as their best pickup opportunity on next year’s otherwise unfriendly Senate map.
Among Republicans, RNC chair Michael Whatley is expected to run for the seat with President Donald Trump’s support. Trump’s daughter-in-law Lara Trump had been floated as a potential candidate, though she ultimately opted not to run.
Nickel represented a purple House district before opting not to run for re-election last year after Republicans redrew its borders to make it friendlier for the GOP. He kicked off his Senate campaign in April, and while he notched some respectable fundraising totals before Tillis left the race, Cooper’s potential entry loomed over his short-lived candidacy.
WRAL reported last week Nickel is now instead eyeing a run for district attorney in Wake County, the state’s most populous.
