Democratic former Rep. Wiley Nickel on Wednesday launched his campaign to unseat Republican Sen. Thom Tillis in North Carolina, signaling that the race will be a referendum on President Donald Trump and his policies.
“Donald Trump is shredding our constitution and billionaires are cutting Medicare, dismantling FEMA, and taking a sledgehammer to our education system,” Nickel said in a statement announcing his run. “It’s happening right now, and Thom Tillis is cheering them on.”
Tillis, who is currently in his second term, is viewed as one of the most vulnerable senators on the 2026 ballot: Inside Elections with Nathan L. Gonzales rates the race as a battleground. Five other states are rated as Senate battlegrounds by Inside Elections, including Maine, where Republican Susan Collins is seeking a sixth term, and Democrat-held seats in Georgia, Michigan, New Hampshire and Minnesota.
