Wiley Nickel

American politician & attorney (born 1975)

Wiley Nickel

Official portrait, 2023

Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from North Carolina's 13th district
In office
January 3, 2023 – January 3, 2025
Preceded by| Ted Budd
Succeeded by| Brad Knott
Member of the North Carolina Senate
from the 16th district
In office
January 1, 2019 – January 1, 2023
Preceded by| Constituency established
Succeeded by| Gale Adcock
Personal details
Born|

George Wilmarth Nickel III

(1975-11-23) November 23, 1975 (age 49)
Fresno, California, U.S.
Political party| Democratic
Spouse| Caroline Nickel
Children| 2
Education| Tulane University (BA)
Pepperdine University (JD)

George Wilmarth "Wiley" Nickel III[1][2] (born November 23, 1975) is an American attorney and Democratic politician who served as the U.S. representative for North Carolina's 13th congressional district from 2023 to 2025.

Nickel served as a member of the North Carolina Senate from the 16th district from 2019 to 2023.[3] He was elected to the House of Representatives in 2022.[4] On December 16, 2023, Nickel decided not to seek re-election after his seat was redrawn to heavily favor the Republican Party.[5]

On April 9, 2025, Nickel launched his campaign for the United States Senate in the 2026 election.[6]

## Early life and education

[edit]

Nickel was born in Fresno, California, on November 23, 1975.[7][8] After graduating from Francis W. Parker School in Chicago, he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science and government from Tulane University and a Juris Doctor from Pepperdine University School of Law.[9]

## Career

[edit]

### Politics

[edit]

Nickel worked for Vice President Al Gore from 1996 to 2001 as a member of his national advance staff.[10] He is also a member of Gore's Climate Reality Leadership Corps.[10]

Nickel later worked on Barack Obama's 2008 presidential campaign and served on the White House national advance staff from 2008 until 2012. He is a member of the Obama Alumni Association and was part of Obama's first wave of political endorsements in 2018. Obama endorsed six candidates in North Carolina, including Nickel, in August 2018.[11][12]

#### 2006 state senate election

[edit]

Main article: 2006 California State Senate election

Nickel ran in California's 12th State Senate district in 2006 against incumbent Republican Jeff Denham. He was called "a moderate Democrat" and the race was seen as potentially competitive.[2] During the primary election, he spent $250,000 on advertisements, mainly funded by personal loans. The ads, which mainly ran in the Sacramento media market, did not mention what district he was running in or his party affiliation.[13] He lost the general election to Denham, receiving 40.2% of the vote to Denham's 59.8%.[14]

### Law

[edit]

Nickel was a criminal defense attorney, having opened his law practice in Cary[15] in 2011.

## North Carolina Senate

[edit]

### Elections

[edit]

#### 2018

[edit]

Nickel was first elected to represent the 16th senate district with over 65% of the vote on November 6, 2018.[16] He held a seat that had been opened when incumbent Jay Chaudhuri was redistricted into the neighboring 15th district.[17] His victory helped to break the Republican supermajority in the North Carolina General Assembly.[18][19][20]

#### 2020

[edit]

Nickel ran for reelection in 2020. He was unopposed in the Democratic primary[16] and defeated Republican nominee Will Marsh with 65.6% of the vote.[21] He was endorsed by The News & Observer.[22]

### Tenure

[edit]

Nickel's official North Carolina Senate portrait

#### 2019–20 session

[edit]

Nickel was appointed to the Agriculture/Environment/Natural Resources Committee, the Pensions/Retirement/Aging Committee and the Education/Higher Education Appropriations Committee on January 18, 2019.[23] He co-sponsored a bill to restore master's degree and doctoral degree pay for teachers in North Carolina.[24]

Nickel co-sponsored Senate Bill 209, which would increase the scope and punishment of hate crimes and require the SBI to maintain and create a hate crimes statistics database. He spoke about SB 209 during a candlelight vigil at the Islamic Center of Cary to remember the New Zealand terror attack victims.[25]

#### 2021–22 session

[edit]

Nickel served on the Redistricting and Elections Committee, the Judiciary Committee, the Pensions/Retirement/Aging Committee, and the Appropriations on General Government/Information Technology Committee in the state senate.[26]

## U.S. House of Representatives

[edit]

### Elections

[edit]

#### 2022

[edit]

Main article: 2022 United States House of Representatives elections in North Carolina § District 13

Nickel ran for Congress in North Carolina's newly drawn 13th congressional district. The district covers southern Wake County, all of Johnston County, and parts of Wayne and Harnett Counties. Nickel won the Democratic nomination.[27]

The conservative Carolina Journal wrote that Nickel ran "as a moderate despite a fairly left-wing voting record".[28]

Nickel was endorsed by the Network for Public Education Fund,[29][30] the North Carolina Association of Educators,[31] NARAL Pro-Choice America,[32] Communication Workers of America,[33] the North Carolina State AFL-CIO,[34][35] the National Association of Social Workers,[36] Human Rights Campaign,[37][38] Everytown for Gun Safety,[39] the League of Conservation Voters,[40] the Voter Protection Project,[41][42] the Sierra Club,[43] Equality North Carolina,[44] the North Carolina Alliance for Retired Americans,[45] North Carolina Asian Americans Together in Action,[46] and Professional Fire Fighters and Paramedics of North Carolina.[36]

Nickel defeated Bo Hines, the Republican nominee, in the November 8 general election.[4]

#### 2024

[edit]

Main article: 2024 United States House of Representatives elections in North Carolina § District 13

Nickel retired after one term leaving office in January 2025, with plans of running in 2026 for US Senate.[47][48]

### Caucus memberships

[edit]

* Blue Dog Coalition[49]
* New Democrat Coalition[50]
* Problem Solvers Caucus[51]

### Committee assignments

[edit]

* House Committee on Financial Services[52]

## 2026 U.S. Senate candidacy

[edit]

Main article: 2026 United States Senate election in North Carolina

On April 9, 2025, Nickel announced his candidacy for the United States Senate.[53][54] On June 29, 2025, Thom Tillis withdrew from the election.[55] The race is expected to be highly competitive, potentially deciding control of the Senate in 2026.

## Political positions

[edit]

Nickel with political advocate and actress Thora Birch in 2023

Nickel supports abortion rights and codifying Roe v. Wade into federal law.[56][57][58]

Nickel voted against a resolution to condemn attacks against crisis pregnancy centers, anti-abortion individuals, and churches.[59]

## Electoral history

[edit]

### 2006

[edit]

2006 California State Senate election Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %

|
|
|

| Republican | Jeff Denham (incumbent)  | 92,879  | 59.8
| Democratic | Wiley Nickel  | 62,539  | 40.2
Total votes | 155,418  | 100.0
| Republican hold

### 2018

[edit]

2018 North Carolina Senate, District 16 Democratic primary[60] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %

|
|
|

| Democratic | Wiley Nickel  | 8,585  | 55.48%
| Democratic | Luis Toledo  | 6,890  | 44.52%
Total votes | 15,445  | 100.00%
2018 North Carolina Senate, District 16 general election[61] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %

|
|
|

| Democratic | Wiley Nickel  | 63,335  | 65.28%
| Republican | Paul Smith  | 30,308  | 31.24%
| Libertarian | Brian Irving  | 3,382  | 3.49%
Total votes | 97,025  | 100.00%
| Democratic hold

### 2020

[edit]

2020 North Carolina Senate, District 16 general election[61] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %

|
|
|

| Democratic | Wiley Nickel  | 80,530  | 65.65%
| Republican | Paul Smith  | 42,144  | 34.35%
Total votes | 122,674  | 100.00%
| Democratic hold

### 2022

[edit]

2022 Democratic primary in North Carolina's 13th congressional district[62] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %

|
|
|

| Democratic | Wiley Nickel  | 22,974  | 51.68%
| Democratic | Sam Searcy | 10,210  | 22.97%
| Democratic | Jamie Campbell Bowles  | 4,175  | 9.39%
| Democratic | Nathan Click  | 3,813  | 8.58%
| Democratic | Denton Lee  | 3,285  | 7.39%
Total votes | 44,457  | 100.00%
2022 North Carolina's 13th congressional district election  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %

|
|
|

| Democratic | Wiley Nickel  | 143,090  | 51.06%
| Republican | Bo Hines | 134,256  | 48.04%
| Write-in |  |
Total votes |  | 100.00%
| Democratic gain from Republican

## Personal life

[edit]

Born in California, Nickel moved to North Carolina in 2009.[63] He lives in Cary with his wife, Caroline, and their two children. Nickel is a second cousin of conservative commentator Tucker Carlson.[64]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Wiley Nickel III's Biography". votesmart.org. Vote Smart: The Voter's Self Defense System. Retrieved February 5, 2023.
2. ^ a b Pollard, Vic (October 13, 2006). "Nickel making name on his own". The Bakersfield Californian. Retrieved November 24, 2021.
3. ^ "Info about NC 16th SD". Ballotpedia.
4. ^ a b Schoenbaum, Hannah (November 8, 2022). "Nickel wins North Carolina US House seat over GOP's Hines". Associated Press. Retrieved November 9, 2022.
5. ^ McIntire, Mary Ellen (December 14, 2023). "Nickel won't run again for House, eyes 2026 Senate bid instead". Roll Call. Retrieved January 20, 2024.
6. ^ Wu, Nicholas (April 9, 2025). "Former Rep. Wiley Nickel is launching a Senate bid in North Carolina — giving hope to Democrats". Politico. Retrieved April 9, 2025.
7. ^ Papp, Justin (June 22, 2023). "Waning Blue Dogs eschew branding in favor of taking down 'weirdos'". Roll Call. Retrieved November 17, 2024.
8. ^ United States Congress. "Wiley Nickel (id: N000194)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved November 17, 2024.
9. ^ "Wiley Nickel (JD '05) Elected to North Carolina State Senate | Pepperdine Caruso School of Law". law.pepperdine.edu. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
10. ^ a b "State Senator Wiley Nickel first to announce for Congress to replace Price". Carolina Journal -. October 18, 2021. Retrieved December 23, 2022.
11. ^ "Obama endorses 81 candidates, 6 in NC for November vote". spectrumlocalnews.com. Retrieved March 31, 2019.
12. ^ "Obama endorses 6 candidates for the North Carolina legislature". The News & Observer. Retrieved August 1, 2018.
13. ^ Goldmacher, Shane (August 10, 2006). "With few hot races, Nickel looks for infusion of party cash". Capitol Weekly. Retrieved November 24, 2021.
14. ^ "Statement of Vote, State Senate" (PDF). California Secretary of State. 2006. Retrieved October 22, 2024.
15. ^ "'We're not going to get walked over.' With divided power, can they agree on anything?". The News & Observer. January 28, 2019.
16. ^ a b "Historical Election Results Data | NCSBE". www.ncsbe.gov. Retrieved November 21, 2021.
17. ^ "Jay Chaudhuri". Ballotpedia. Lucy Burns Institute. Retrieved May 8, 2025.
18. ^ "Democrats break GOP 'supermajority'". Raleigh News & Observer. November 6, 2018.
19. ^ "North Carolina Election Results – Election Results 2018 – The New York Times". The New York Times. Retrieved November 9, 2018.
20. ^ WRAL (November 6, 2018). "Democrats break veto-proof majority in General Assembly". wral.com. Retrieved November 9, 2018.
21. ^ "North Carolina State Senate – District 16 Election Results | USA TODAY". www.usatoday.com. Retrieved November 21, 2021.
22. ^ The Editorial Board (October 3, 2020). "Here are all the News & Observer's 2020 endorsements". News & Observer.
23. ^ "NCGA Week in Review- Jan 18, 2019 | Lexology". www.lexology.com. January 18, 2019. Retrieved February 17, 2019.
24. ^ WRAL (February 7, 2019). "Senate bill would restore master's pay for some teachers". WRAL.com. Retrieved February 17, 2019.
25. ^ "Vigil held in Cary to remember New Zealand terror attack victims". ABC11 Raleigh-Durham. March 16, 2019. Retrieved March 31, 2019.
26. ^ "Committees – North Carolina General Assembly". www.ncleg.gov. Retrieved November 21, 2021.
27. ^ "Wiley Nickel wins Democratic nomination for U.S. House in North Carolina's 13th Congressional District". Associated Press. May 18, 2022.
28. ^ "New NC congressional delegation heads to DC after midterms". Carolina Journal -. December 29, 2022.
29. ^ Cimarusti, Darcie (April 14, 2022). "Wiley Nickel for North Carolina's 13th Congressional District". NPE Action. Retrieved September 18, 2022.
30. ^ Cimarusti, Darcie (March 14, 2018). "Wiley Nickel for North Carolina State Senate, 16th District". NPE Action. Retrieved September 18, 2022.
31. ^ Mickey (May 2, 2022). "NCAE Endorses Slate Of Congressional Candidates". JoCo Report. Retrieved September 18, 2022.
32. ^ "NARAL's Election Endorsements". NARAL Pro-Choice America. Retrieved September 18, 2022.
33. ^ "2022 CWA Endorsed Candidates – North Carolina". Communications Workers of America. October 20, 2020. Retrieved September 18, 2022.
34. ^ "NC AFL-CIO Announces May 17th Primary Endorsements". North Carolina's Union Movement. April 21, 2022. Retrieved September 18, 2022.
35. ^ Gallup, Jasmine (April 25, 2022). "NC AFL-CIO Endorses Beasley, Other Democrats". INDY Week. Retrieved September 23, 2022.
36. ^ a b "Wiley Nickel III's Political Summary". Vote Smart. Retrieved September 18, 2022.
37. ^ "North Carolina – HRC". Human Rights Campaign. Retrieved September 18, 2022.
38. ^ "Human Rights Campaign Endorses 14 Pro-Equality Champions for U.S. House of Representatives". Human Rights Campaign. July 6, 2022. Retrieved September 18, 2022.
39. ^ "Wiley Nickel". Gun Sense Voter. Retrieved September 18, 2022.
40. ^ "Wiley Nickel Earns LCV Action Fund Endorsement for North Carolina's 13th Congressional District". League of Conservation Voters. Retrieved September 18, 2022.
41. ^ "Champions". Voter Protection Project. Retrieved September 18, 2022.
42. ^ emily@protectvoting.org (April 14, 2022). "State Senator Wiley Nickel Earns National Voting Rights Organization Endorsement". Voter Protection Project. Retrieved September 18, 2022.
43. ^ "News: N.C. Sierra Club's endorsees pledge leadership on climate, other environmental issues". www.sierraclub.org. Retrieved September 18, 2022.
44. ^ "Equality NC PAC Releases Endorsements". EqualityNC. April 21, 2022. Retrieved September 18, 2022.
45. ^ david (April 29, 2022). "Retiree Group Endorses Wiley Nickel for Election to U.S. House". Retired Americans. Retrieved September 18, 2022.
46. ^ "Endorsements". Retrieved September 18, 2022.
47. ^ Battaglia, Danielle (December 14, 2023). "Wake's Rep. Wiley Nickel won't run for reelection. He's making plans for 2026 instead". The News & Observer. Retrieved December 14, 2023.
48. ^ McIntire, Mary Ellen (December 14, 2023). "Nickel won't run again for House, eyes 2026 Senate bid instead". Roll Call. Retrieved January 20, 2024.
49. ^ Meyer, Theodoric; Caldwell, Leigh Ann (August 8, 2023). "Analysis | Meet the new Blue Dogs". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved August 24, 2023.
50. ^ "Leadership | New Democrat Coalition". newdemocratcoalition.house.gov. Retrieved January 7, 2023.
51. ^ "Featured Members". Problem Solvers Caucus. Retrieved April 29, 2023.
52. ^ "Honored to be appointed to the House Committee on Financial Services. Excited to work with @PatrickMcHenry, @RepMaxineWaters, and members on both sides of the aisle to lower the cost of housing, expand economic opportunity, and build an economy that works for everyone in #NC13!". Twitter. Retrieved January 28, 2023.
53. ^ Robertson, Gary (April 9, 2025). "Ex-congressman Nickel launches bid to unseat North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis in 2026". Associated Press. Retrieved April 13, 2025.
54. ^ Kingdollar, Brandon (April 10, 2025). "Former US Rep. Wiley Nickel officially announces Senate campaign, enters fray against Tillis". NC Newsline. Retrieved May 16, 2025.
55. ^ Carney, Jordain (June 29, 2025). "Thom Tillis says he will retire following Trump attacks". Politico. Retrieved June 29, 2025.
56. ^ "Local Matters: U.S. House candidate Wiley Nickel discusses Putin, abortion rights and inflation". CBS17.com. April 28, 2022. Retrieved September 18, 2022.
57. ^ "'Trying to get young voters informed': Abortion rights advocates hold demonstration in Clayton". ABC11 Raleigh-Durham. July 11, 2022. Retrieved September 23, 2022.
58. ^ "'I have never known a world in which we didn't have the right to choose.'". The Pulse. May 5, 2022. Retrieved September 18, 2022.
59. ^ "NC Congressional Democrats oppose resolution condemning pregnancy center attacks | The North State Journal". nsjonline.com. January 18, 2023.
60. ^ "NC SBE Contest Results". er.ncsbe.gov. Retrieved November 24, 2021.
61. ^ a b "NC SBE Contest Results". er.ncsbe.gov. Retrieved November 24, 2021.
62. ^ "NC SBE Contest Results". er.ncsbe.gov. Retrieved May 20, 2022.
63. ^ Newhauser, Daniel (November 18, 2020). "And so the 2022 campaign gets underway". NC Policy Watch. Retrieved November 24, 2021.
64. ^ "Uncovered: Wiley Nickel is Tucker Carlson's cousin". Carolina Journal -. July 19, 2023.

## External links

[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Wiley Nickel.

* Congressman Wiley Nickel official U.S. House website
* Wiley Nickel for Congress campaign website

* Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
* Financial information (federal office) at the Federal Election Commission
* Legislation sponsored at the Library of Congress
* Profile at Vote Smart
* Appearances on C-SPAN

U.S. House of Representatives

Preceded by

Ted Budd

|  Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from North Carolina's 13th congressional district
2023–2025  | Succeeded by

Brad Knott

U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial)
Preceded by

Jeff Jackson

as Former U.S. Representative  |  Order of precedence of the United States
as Former U.S. Representative | Succeeded by

Peter Plympton Smith

as Former U.S. Representative

* v
* t
* e

North Carolina's delegation(s) to the 118th United States Congress (ordered by seniority)

| 118th |

Senate:

* ▌T. Tillis (R)
* ▌T. Budd (R)

House:

* ▌V. Foxx (R)
* ▌P. McHenry (R)
* ▌R. Hudson (R)
* ▌A. Adams (D)
* ▌D. Rouzer (R)
* ▌D. Bishop (R)
* ▌G. Murphy (R)
* ▌K. Manning (D)
* ▌D. Ross (D)
* ▌D. Davis (D)
* ▌C. Edwards (R)
* ▌V. Foushee (D)
* ▌J. Jackson (D)
* ▌G. Nickel (D)

|
|

Authority control databases: People |

* US Congress

|

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*[t]: Discuss this template
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