NC-13: Wiley Nickel (D)

REPLACING:

Ted Budd (R)[i]

WORK HISTORY:

North Carolina State Senate (Sate Senator, District 16); Nickel & Granados PLLC (Attorney); The White House (Advance Associate); Democratic National Committee (Political Consultant); Barack Obama Presidential Inaugural Committee (Event Manager); Obama for America (National Advance Staff); The Law Offices of Joseph Uremovic (Associate Attorney); Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office (Law Clerk); Merced County District Attorney’s Office (Deputy District Attorney); Ventura County District Attorney’s Office (Law Clerk); Cardoza for Congress (Finance Director); Gore/Lieberman 2000 (National Advance Staff); Office of Vice President Al Gore (National Advance Staff)[ii]

EDUCATION:

Diploma, Francis W. Parker School; BA, Tulane University; JD, Pepperdine University School of Law[iii]

CAMPAIGNED ON:

Taxes; Economy & Jobs; Affordable Healthcare; Quality Education; Affordable Housing; Seniors; Gun Safety; Defending Your Rights; Democracy; Immigration; Protecting Our Environment; Public Safety and Criminal Justice[iv]

ON THE ISSUES

REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS:

On his campaign website, Nickel asserts that “women are experiencing an assault on their right to privacy and to make their own reproductive healthcare choices.” Nickel believes that “politicians have no business getting in the middle of healthcare decisions, and that those decisions belong between a woman and her doctor.”[v] In Congress, he commits to fighting to codify Roe v. Wade into federal law.[vi]

ECONOMY, JOBS & TAXES:

Nickel says he will fight for “fair tax reform” in Congress “that shifts the tax burden away from working families and asks big corporations to pay their fair share.” In order to address rising inflation, he argues the US needs 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.” He further advocates for investing in American manufacturing, “relaxing overly-restrictive trade regulations,” and expanding funding for North Carolina infrastructure.[vii] [viii] Nickel commits to working to pass the PRO Act and support workers in their right to organize, as well as a national $15 minimum wage.[ix] [x] As a member of the North Carolina Senate, Nickel authored legislation ending the ban on public sector collective bargaining.[xi] He strongly opposed Trump’s tax plan, calling it a tax cut for corporations and the wealthy.[xii]

HEALTHCARE & SOCIAL SAFETY NET:

Nickel supports “moving toward a universal healthcare plan that allows people to keep their employer or union-provided healthcare plans, if they want to.” In Congress, he will work to lower drug costs and cap out-of-pocket costs for seniors on Medicare, as well as expand access to high-quality care in rural areas. Nickel further asserts he will “fight to protect Social Security and oppose any efforts to privatize it.” He voted for and cosponsored legislation in North Carolina to expand Medicaid, as well as authored a bill providing funding for a full-time nurse in every public school. He criticized Trump’s approach to healthcare policy and accused him of “sabotage[ing] Obamacare.”[xiii] [xiv] [xv] [xvi]

IMMIGRATION & BORDER SECURITY:

Nickel advocates for “comprehensive immigration reform,” asserting that the US “needs legal immigration.”[xvii] He believes in “strong border security and improving technology at our ports of entry.” He supports streamlining the citizenship process and says he will “prioritize solutions to the visa backlog including expanded premium processing for L-2 and H-4 visa applicants.” Nickel has supported immigration policies pursued by the Biden administration, including reinstating DACA and ending Trump’s Muslim ban.[xviii] He opposed North Carolina’s “show me your papers” bill, which he said would create “an unnecessary lack of trust between immigrant communities and law enforcement.”[xix] [xx] [xxi]

CRIME & PUBLIC SAFETY:

Nickel disagrees with calls to defund the police and supports “programs that help to build community relationships and trust between law enforcement and the communities they serve.” He also supports 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.” In the state senate, Nickel fought for the legalization of medical and recreational marijuana use and commits to supporting similar legislation at the federal level.[xxii] [xxiii] His campaign was endorsed by the North Carolina Police Benevolent Association.[xxiv]

GOVERNMENT INSTITUTIONS & ELECTION SECURITY:

On his campaign website, Nickel asserts that “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, he says he will support the For the People Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Act.[xxv] He also supports “forming an independent, non-partisan redistricting commission in each state to take politicians fully out of the redistricting process […] funding our election security, making Election Day a federal holiday, and expanding access to early voting.”[xxvi] As a member of Redistricting & Elections Committee in the North Carolina State Senate, Nickel fought for "fair Congressional maps” and opposed legislation “that would have led to thousands of legitimate absentee votes being thrown in the trash.”[xxvii]

EDUCATION:

Nickel is a strong advocate for public education. In Congress, he commits to supporting “investments in childhood education, and increased funding for STEM programs to prepare our kids for the jobs of the future,” as well as working to increase funding for the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Nickel also supports “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.” As a member of the state senate, Nickel “fought for universal Pre-K, raising teacher pay, and investing in childhood mental health and support services.”[xxviii]

CLIMATE CHANGE, ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT:

Nickel argues that “a strong economy and a clean environment go hand in hand,” and commits to supporting investments in green jobs and clean energy infrastructure, as well as funding for “sustainable transportation initiatives” and “a long-term plan toward energy independence.” As a state senator, Nickel supported polluter accountability legislation “so that taxpayers aren’t picking up the bill when big polluters spill toxic substances into our air and water.”[xxix] A former staffer for Al Gore, Nickel says he is “excited” to fight for a “sustainable future” and to protect “our natural resources.” He is endorsed by the Sierra Club.[xxx] [xxxi] [xxxii]

BIG TECH & DATA PRIVACY:

Nickel has condemned Big Tech companies like Google and Amazon for “engag[ing] in monopolistic and unfair business practices” and has called for the companies to be “broken up under antitrust laws.”[xxxiii] [xxxiv]

GUN SAFETY:

Nickel is a gun owner and supporter of the Second Amendment, but has called for “common-sense gun safety legislation that is evidence-based and shown to reduce violence.” A Moms Demand Action Gun Sense Candidate, Nickel advocates for measures including universal background checks, safe storage laws, red flag laws, and a ban on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines.[xxxv] [xxxvi] [xxxvii] [xxxviii] He holds an “F” rating with the NRA.[xxxix]

FOREIGN POLICY:

Nickel called Putin’s “unprovoked attack on Ukraine an attack on democracy itself” and has expressed support for Ukrainians. He has previously criticized Trump’s foreign policy actions, accusing him of “cozy[ing] up” to Putin.”[xl] [xli] [xlii]