"Rep. Wiley Nickel Shifts Focus to 2026 Senate Bid Amidst Redistricting Changes"

North Carolina Representative Wiley Nickel, a Democrat, has announced that he will not seek reelection after the redrawing of congressional lines heavily favored Republicans in his district. Nickel, who won the last election in a competitive race, cited gerrymandering as the reason for his decision. He plans to focus on electing Democrats and then run for the U.S. Senate in 2026. Nickel is the third Democratic member of North Carolina's congressional delegation to announce they will not run again due to gerrymandering.