Wiley Nickel

Wiley Nickel has lived in Cary, North Carolina. Nickel graduated from Francis W. Parker School in 1994. He earned a B.A. in political science and government from Tulane University in 1998 and a J.D. from Pepperdine University in 2005. Nickel's career experience includes working as an attorney with Nickel & Granados, PLLC.[1][2]

North Carolina 10th Prosecutorial District Attorney

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

Former Congressman Wiley Nickel. Running for Wake County District Attorney.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

Public Safety for Wake CountyTackling political corruptionFighting back against Donald Trump's attacks on our communities.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Public Safety

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

Raleigh News & Observer, NC State AFL-CIO, Many local elected officials in Wake County.

Campaign websiteNickel's campaign website stated the following:IssuesWiley is running for District Attorney because he knows we can do more to fight crime and keep Wake County safe – that starts with a District Attorney who will focus on violent crime and property theft and get the job done.Safer Wake County communities.Wiley will work to build safer communities where families can thrive. That means holding violent offenders accountable while also focusing on smart solutions that reduce repeat crime. Wiley will expand partnerships with law enforcement, schools, and neighborhood groups to stop crime before it starts. Wiley will prioritize tackling gun violence, drug trafficking, violent crime and property theft while focusing on the root cause of crime by supporting proven drug diversion programs that steer nonviolent offenders back on track.Support law enforcement.Our local law enforcement officers work hard every day to keep us safe and Wiley will work just as hard to make sure they have the resources and support they need to do their job. Wiley will be a countywide voice for law enforcement to make sure our police have the resources they need to fully train and staff their departments, retain the best officers, and provide good pay and benefits. Public safety means that everyone feels welcome and safe in our communities. Wiley disagrees with those in his party who want to defund the police and supports programs that help to build community relationships and trust between local law enforcement and the communities they serve.Protect women and children.Protecting women and children will be one of Wiley’s highest priorities. He will aggressively prosecute domestic violence, sexual assault, and crimes against children, ensuring victims have a strong voice in the justice system. Wiley will expand victim support services, strengthen partnerships with law enforcement, and work closely with community organizations to prevent abuse before it happens. Wiley will push for tougher penalties for repeat offenders and invest in specialized training for prosecutors handling sensitive cases. Every woman and child in Wake County deserves safety, dignity, and justice.Modernize the Wake County District Attorney’s Office.The career prosecutors at the Wake County District Attorney’s Office do an amazing job despite being overworked and understaffed compared to the rest of the state. Mecklenburg County is smaller than Wake County yet they have double the number of prosecutors. Wake County has 43 prosecutors while Mecklenburg County has 94 prosecutors. Wake is one of the fastest growing counties in the state and the DA’s Office hasn’t kept pace with the growth. We need a District Attorney who will get us the resources we need to keep Wake County safe.Tackle political corruption.With Donald Trump and right-wing extremists trying to take away our freedoms, the threats to our democracy have never been more urgent. The Wake County District Attorney investigates and prosecutes all of North Carolina’s political corruption and government malfeasance cases because of our position in the state’s Capitol. In this moment we need a District Attorney who will stand up for our rights and freedoms, hold corrupt politicians accountable, and defend the rule of law and our Constitution.Defend voting rights and constitutional rights.In recent years, we’ve seen endless attacks on our voting rights and our constitutional rights. As District Attorney Wiley will aggressively prosecute anyone who tries to interfere with our elections. That means holding anyone accountable who tries to intimidate voters, suppress the vote or attack our democratic process. He’ll use the full power of the office to defend voting rights and protect our constitutional freedoms. Wiley will always fight to ensure that every citizen’s constitutional rights are protected.Community engagement & communication.We need a District Attorney who will communicate and show up in all parts of Wake County in order to build faith and confidence in our criminal justice system. While it’s low hanging fruit, the current Office doesn’t maintain a unique website or communicate via official social media platforms. Wiley will create a website and communicate regularly with Wake County citizens about the work of the District Attorney’s Office. He’ll show up and regularly visit all municipalities in Wake County. He’ll partner with local law enforcement and elected leaders around the county to educate the public and help build the community relationships that provide real public safety for Wake. Without trust and community partnerships the Wake DA’s Office and broader criminal justice system can’t function. Wiley will establish a Community Engagement Office to establish important relationships with local law enforcement, elected leaders, community leaders, neighborhood groups and Wake County residents of all ages and backgrounds. Building trust with local communities is the best way to get real public safety.  Focus on violent crime and property theft - not low level marijuana users.Medical marijuana is legal in 40 states. As a North Carolina State Senator Wiley authored legislation to legalize medical marijuana. His father died of cancer and used marijuana illegally during his final days of life – something that had a big impact on his views on the issue. Wiley believes we need to change our approach to medical marijuana and will create a new policy in the Wake DA’s Office for dealing with legitimate medical marijuana users.Combat our mental health crisis.We have a growing mental health crisis in our state. More than 450,000 adults and young adults in our state have a serious mental illness, and rates of depression, anxiety and other disorders continue to rise. Mental Health Courts work with nonviolent offenders who have been diagnosed with a substance use, mental health, or a co-occurring disorder. Mental health courts facilitate cooperation between the state mental health system, mental health service providers, and the court. This allows the state mental health system to provide repeat adult offenders who need mental health services with treatment and other mental health services aimed at improving their ability to function in the community, thereby reducing recidivism and easing the workload of the court. As District Attorney Wiley will create a full-time mental health court for Wake County to address one of the most pressing challenges facing our community. Too often, people struggling with mental illness cycle through the criminal justice system without receiving the treatment they need. A dedicated Mental Health Court will connect individuals to care, reduce repeat offenses, and improve public safety. By working with judges, treatment providers, and law enforcement, we can ensure that those in crisis get the help they need. This approach is both smart on crime and compassionate, making Wake County stronger and safer for all.Fight Hate Crimes.Wiley will tackle the alarming increase in hate crimes – including those against our Jewish, Asian and Muslim-American communities. He will move more resources into the prosecution of hate crime related cases and make sure law enforcement continues to invest in training to recognize and respond to the complex nature of these disturbing cases.Work to End Gun Violence.Gun violence is the leading cause of death among children in the United States. Far too many North Carolinians are dying from senseless gun violence. Wiley is a father of two young children and understands the fear of sending your child off to school and wondering if they’ll be safe. In Congress Wiley was a member of the Gun Violence Prevention Task Force and co-sponsored legislation to ban assault weapons and ghost guns, provide for universal background checks and close the gun show loophole. He also co-sponsored Ethan’s Law, legislation that would require the safe storage of firearms and establish penalties for parents if a minor gains access to a gun. As District Attorney Wiley will come down hard on those who use guns to commit violent crime.— Wiley Nickel's campaign website (June 22, 2026)Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.

U.S. Senate

Wiley Nickel did not complete [the profile publisher]'s 2026 Candidate Connection survey.

Wiley Nickel did not complete [the profile publisher]'s 2024 Candidate Connection survey.

Wiley Nickel did not complete [the profile publisher]'s 2022 Candidate Connection survey.

Campaign website

Nickel's campaign website stated the following:

Taxes

Right now, North Carolina’s working families are paying more than their fair share of the tax burden and struggling to make ends meet.

In Congress, I’ll fight for fair tax reform that shifts the tax burden away from working families and asks big corporations to pay their fair share. It’s time to level the playing field for working families and invest in programs that help strengthen the middle class.

As CEO pay hits record highs and American workers experience wage stagnation, it’s time to cut working people a break.

Economy & Jobs

Emerging from a pandemic that caused businesses to close, unemployment to rise, and impacted every single North Carolina family, folks are struggling to keep up with rising costs due to inflation.

In the short term, we need to cut working people a break and lower gas prices by forcing big oil CEOs who are gouging consumers to pay a windfall tax on their record profits. It makes no sense to continue to ask middle-class taxpayers to pay for big oil subsidies while those same taxpayers struggle to make ends meet.

It’s also time to invest in American manufacturing through programs like Manufacturing USA and prevent supply chain disruptions that are raising prices on North Carolina consumers. We must also crack down on China’s unfair trade practices, and take away tax breaks from companies that ship jobs overseas.

Workers will always have my support in their right to organize and fight for good wages, good benefits, and safe working conditions. In Congress, I’ll work to pass the PRO Act and be an advocate for the middle class.

Small businesses are the critical job-creators across our district that keep our local economies moving. We must remove roadblocks to ensure entrepreneurs with great ideas have access to the support and resources they need to start their businesses right here in North Carolina. As a State Senator, I authored a bill that would give a 2-year unemployment tax holiday to employers in our state. Grant programs for small business and workforce development help ensure our local businesses have the talent pool and partnerships they need to succeed.

Affordable Healthcare

I lost my father to lung cancer at a young age, and know firsthand how a healthcare crisis can shake a family. Access to quality, affordable healthcare is fundamental to the strength of working North Carolina families.

As a State Senator, I fought hard to close the Medicaid coverage gap and get affordable healthcare to an additional 600,000 North Carolinians, about ⅓ of whom are our neighbors with disabilities. I also authored a bill to provide funding for a full-time nurse in every public school.

I’m supportive of legislation to lower drug prices and cap out-of-pocket costs for seniors on Medicare. I support moving toward a universal healthcare plan that allows people to keep their employer or union-provided healthcare plans, if they want to.

I’m committed to working hard to lower prescription drug costs, lower premiums, and expand access to high-quality healthcare services in rural areas by incentivizing staff retention and investing in rural infrastructure.

Quality Education

Our children deserve a sound public education. We need to make long overdue and needed investments in public education. In the State Senate, I’ve fought for universal Pre-K, raising teacher pay, and investing in childhood mental health and support services. I authored the “K-3 Reading and Literacy Improvement Act”, which would ensure a full-time Teacher’s Assistant in every classroom Kindergarten through 2nd Grade to get kids reading up to grade level.

To help improve childhood access to health care, I authored the “Healthy Students - Nurses In Every School Act”, to provide funding for a full-time nurse in every North Carolina public school. Too many Triangle students have to share a nurse between 2, 3 or even 4 schools.

In Congress, I’ll support investments in childhood education, and increased funding for STEM programs to prepare our kids for the jobs of the future. We must ensure every child has access to the resources they need to learn by increasing funding for the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).

Beyond K-12, I support expanding the number of apprenticeships available through the Department of Labor, and access to affordable college education so that our young people don’t have to take on debt to continue their learning.

Affordable Housing

We must take immediate action to increase the supply of affordable housing in our state. As more skilled workers, families, and businesses move to North Carolina, residents have seen the cost of housing skyrocket. While the average cost to buy or rent a place to live has increased nearly 20% in our region, wages have simply not kept up. If our state is to be a national leader in innovation, manufacturing, and economic development, we have to address the high cost of housing. To start, we must expand the Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC), which helps to spur the construction and rehabilitation of affordable housing across the country. We must also prioritize individual homeownership, by making it easier for owner-occupants to purchase homes, rather than large investors that crowd out families trying to buy their first homes.

Seniors

Our seniors deserve to be able to retire with dignity. Older Americans should not have to choose between paying for health care, food or utilities. In the State Senate, I serve on the Pensions and Retirement Committee, where I have fought to give our retirees the respect they deserve with meaningful cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs).

In Congress, I’ll fight to protect Social Security and oppose any move to privatize it. We must expand Medicare coverage to include vision, hearing and dental care, and allow Medicare/Medicaid to negotiate with pharmaceutical companies to lower prescription drug costs. I support investment in affordable housing for seniors, and legislation that addresses predatory scams that target aging North Carolinians.

Gun Safety

Our communities deserve to feel safe from the impact of gun violence. Our children deserve to feel safe in school. I support common-sense gun safety legislation that is evidence-based and shown to reduce violence.

As a gun owner, I believe in and support the 2nd Amendment. I also believe we need to be honest about the epidemic of gun violence our communities experience every day. I’ve advocated for common-sense safety measures like universal background checks, safe storage laws, closing the loophole that allows domestic abusers to buy guns, and a ban on high-capacity magazines.

Defending Your Rights

Around the country, women are experiencing an assault on their right to privacy and to make their own reproductive healthcare decisions. Now that the US Supreme Court has overturned Roe v Wade, North Carolina women are facing a world without the right to choose. I believe that politicians have no business getting in the middle of healthcare decisions, and that those decisions belong between a woman and her doctor. That’s why I helped lead the fight in North Carolina to stop Republican attacks on the right to choose, and why I’ll fight hard to protect that right in Congress.

I believe in our Constitution and every American’s right to equality under the law. No one should be discriminated against for their gender identity or who they love, and I fully support marriage equality for the LGBT+ community.

Democracy

Our democracy works best when every American can participate and make their voice heard. That’s why as a State Senator, I fought hard against gerrymandering in our state, which robs voters of a real choice at the ballot box. The right to vote is the backbone of American democracy, and we should be making it easier for our citizens to participate, not harder.

In Congress, I’ll fight to make our democracy stronger. That starts with passing HR1, the For The People Act. I support forming an independent, non-partisan redistricting commission in each state to take politicians fully out of the redistricting process. I also support funding our election security, making Election Day a federal holiday, and expanding access to early voting.

To make Congress work, we need to get dark money out of politics. We need to overturn Citizens United to curb unlimited spending by special interests in our elections, force Super PACs to disclose their ‘dark money’ donors, and improve ethics requirements for candidates and campaigns. I support legislation to ban members of Congress from trading individual stocks.

Immigration

North Carolina is a hub of innovation and diversity. People with roots from all over the world have come together to build a prosperous and growing community here.

Skilled work-visa holders coming to the U.S. are hitting an extreme backlog in visa processing, and often wait months or years for their applications to be processed. These residents contribute $7.5 billion to the U.S. economy, and the backlog prevents their smooth transition into our workforce. North Carolina businesses need skilled workers, and in Congress, I will prioritize solutions to the visa backlog including expanded premium processing for L-2 and H-4 visa applicants.

It’s time for comprehensive immigration reform. I believe in strong border security, and improving technology at our ports of entry. People who wish to come to our country seeking a better life deserve a pathway to visas or citizenship that doesn’t take decades to complete. I believe that our state is stronger because of its diversity and that those seeking the American Dream in our country deserve a chance to achieve it.

Protecting Our Environment

As the father of two young children, I believe that all our kids deserve to grow up and raise families of their own on a healthy planet. Everyone deserves access to clean water and clean air. In the past year, our country has seen an unprecedented rise in severe weather that causes damage to our property and infrastructure. Scientists around the world agree that there are steps we can and must take to protect our environment for future generations.

A strong economy and a clean environment go hand in hand. In Congress, I’ll support investments in “green” jobs and clean energy infrastructure, funding for sustainable transportation initiatives, and a long-term plan toward energy independence.

As a State Senator, I pushed for “Polluter Pays” legislation, so that taxpayers aren’t picking up the bill when big polluters spill toxic substances into our air and water. North Carolina is home to diverse ecosystems and in Congress, I’ll support fully funding programs that protect our state’s coastlines and wildlife.

Public Safety and Criminal Justice

Our first responders, firefighters, police, and EMS work hard every day to keep us safe. Public safety means that everyone feels welcome and safe in our communities. To do so, we must support law enforcement with the resources they need to fully train and staff their departments, retain the best officers, and provide good pay and benefits. I disagree with those in my party who want to defund the police, and I support programs that help to build community relationships and trust between law enforcement and the communities they serve. Too often, officers are asked to respond to mental health or substance abuse calls without the resources or training they need to help a person in crisis. I’ll support funding co-response programs for communities to invest in social work, mental health, or substance abuse professionals to get vulnerable people the help they need.

As a criminal defense attorney, I’ve worked to ensure that my clients are treated fairly and compassionately by the North Carolina justice system. As a State Senator, I’ve worked toward a fairer justice system for everyone that helps those convicted of crimes get back on their feet after serving their time.

In the State Senate, I’m proud to have fought for the legalization of medical and recreational marijuana and will continue that work on the federal level in Congress.[3]

—Wiley Nickel's campaign website (2022)[4]

Wiley Nickel did not complete [the profile publisher]'s 2020 Candidate Connection survey.

What would be your top three priorities, if elected?

1) Fixing Gerrymandering

2) Strengthening our Public Schools

3) Providing Affordable Health Care[6][3]

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about? Why?

I’m running for the State Senate in the new 16th District because it's time to focus on strengthening our schools, creating high paying jobs, expanding access to affordable healthcare and protecting our state’s natural resources. I’ll fight to enact universal background checks and ban assault weapons and high capacity magazines. I will vote to end the gerrymandering stain that has plagued our state for far too long and finally expand Medicaid to North Carolina’s most vulnerable. These are common sense solutions but will take effective, progressive leadership to make them happen.Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; invalid names, e.g. too many[3]

[the profile publisher] also asked the candidate a series of optional questions. Wiley Nickel answered the following:

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

President Barack Obama. I had the distinct pleasure of working for the White House, travelling with President Barack Obama in the United States and abroad for most of his first term. In many ways my campaign is a continuation of his presidency.[3]

What process do you favor for redistricting?

I support a non-partisan approach to redistricting that takes the politicians out of the process. The gerrymandering of congressional and legislative districts locks in a Republican majority and locks out the voters. We must have fair districts that allow for a real choice at the ballot box.[3]