Rep. Wiley Nickel shifts focus to 2026 Senate race, forgoing reelection in 2024

U.S. Rep. Wiley Nickel, a Democrat from North Carolina, has announced that he will not seek reelection in 2024 due to redistricting that turned his competitive district into a solid Republican seat. Instead, Nickel plans to focus on the 2026 U.S. Senate race against incumbent Sen. Thom Tillis. The redistricting, carried out by Republican leaders, is expected to give Republicans a significant advantage in the upcoming elections. Nickel's decision not to run for reelection follows similar moves by two other Democrats in North Carolina's congressional delegation, who also cited the new maps as the reason for their departure.