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Mary Thoreen's avatar

And if Cooper does run, perhaps we can replace Budd with Jackson.

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Mark Rodin's avatar

Excellent idea

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Patricia Rosa's avatar

Agree with you! Either of them would be fantastic candidates who can beat Tillis the Wimp. Wouldn’t it be incredible when Dr Annie Andrews defeats Lindsey Graham in SC and either Cooper or Jackson defeat Tillis in NC! We must swing blue in 2026

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Kevin Farrell's avatar

If Jackson got elected to the US Senate, how would the NC Atty. Gen. office be filled?

would Gov. Stein appoint someone? Would the General Assembly have to confirm the appointment? If not then would they change existing law to take away or limit the Governor's power?

If this process is subject to GOP approval, then I would say Jackson should wait until Budd is up in 2028.

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Ruth Bromer's avatar

Totally agree and I was going to say the same.

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Howard's avatar

Jeff has a great future and his newsletters from congress were a great idea. Having said that I can't stress enough how much we need Roy Cooper in Washington, if not as President then certainly in the Senate. There's not going to be a lot of opportunities laying around to move congressional majorities, Tillis is so 'gettable". Jeff is 42 years old and has a great future. Let's not rush it.

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Vicki's avatar

If Cooper is going to run he must start now. He has been quiet (it appears to me) since Governor Stein took office. I look forward to hearing from him, and if not him it’s a go for Jeff Jackson!

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US Blues's avatar

Jackson ran a great campaign in 2021! He visited all 100 counties in NC and most colleges and universities. I heard that it was Chuck Schumer who asked Jeff to end his campaign and endorse Beasley because he thought she would have a better chance at winning against McCrory or Ted Budd. Chuck was 100% wrong AGAIN and likely cost NC and the US a Dem senator. IMO, Beasley ran a poor campaign. I never heard anything from her. Jackson could’ve beaten either of the gop candidates for US senate.

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Kayman's avatar

Schumer blocked Jackson in 2020, but not 2021. Jackson dropped out of the 2022 US Senate race to prevent it from becoming racial and extemely divisive over race of the two candidates. Jackson also made several gaffes when he was early into the US 2022 US Senate campaign that turned off black North Carolinians with the racially tone-deaf statements in a couple of interviews.

Beasley's 2022 US Senate campaign was hapered because of Schumer. Schumer refused to fund Beasley's campaign (along with Val Demmings' and Mandela Barnes' campaigns in FL and WI respectively) because Schumer only wants black US Senators in GA in 2022. Schumer attempted to do the same in MD with Angela Alsobrooks in 2024, and DE US Senate race fell below the radar with Lisa Blount Rochester. Schumer and Peters (DSCC Chair) did everything he could to sabotage Beasley, and they contributed the high turnover within the campaign. The consultants and individuals with no NC connections, knowledge, or acumen were running Beasley's campaign.

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US Blues's avatar

I still think Jeff Jackson would’ve won.

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Kayman's avatar

Either Beasley or Jackson would have won if Schumer and Gary Peters wouldn't have spent their entire time shooting North Carolina the middle finger in 2020 and 2022 election cycles.

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Robert Hall's avatar

Wiley Nickel is another serious contender who is already in the race, and shouldn’t be ignored. I agree that Cooper should run and that Jackson would be a great choice, but it could be that neither of them will choose to run. Whether they do , or don’t, Wiley Nickel is an equally good choice. Any of the three can beat Thom Tillis.

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Ruth Bromer's avatar

Why can't we promote the one Democratic candidate - Wiley Nickel? Wiley isn't as dynamic as Jeff but he has won every race he has been in, including Congressional District 13 that leaned Republican. Wiley would be a great senator. He worked in Washington, DC with Biden and Obama before coming to NC and then was in the NC Senate and then Congress.

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Jelly8bean's avatar

Isn't Wiley Nichols already running? No one cares about that?

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Ruth Bromer's avatar

I certainly do. Wiley is great, but he is quiet. He cares deeply and has won every race he has been in. He won the Congressional District 13 race that was leaning Republican. Why is everyone ignoring the only Democratic candidate?

By the way, It's Wiley Nickel.

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Laura Reich's avatar

Love this idea! Hopefully we have elections in 2026 🙏🏻

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Doug's avatar

Tillis is on unsteady footing, undermined by lackluster support from within his own party and sinking poll numbers. If Roy Cooper can be persuaded to return to the political arena, he'd be a strong contender—deeply attuned to North Carolina’s needs and prepared to lead with competence and clarity.

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Holler & Hammer's avatar

As a resident of district 13 and someone who saw so much good Wiley Nickel did here, I am all in for Wiley. He can win and you can best believe that MAGA will push some extremist carpetbagger with no ties to the state and they will lose.

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Gina's avatar

Wow ! Could you even imagine!!!!!💙🇺🇸💙🇺🇸💙🇺🇸💙

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Stacie K.'s avatar

Cosign 100%. Jeff Jackson was my state rep until the GOP gerrymandered him out of his seat. They are terrified of him because they see how much potential he has.

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Mark Rodin's avatar

And speaking of the New York democratic mayoral primary, Thomas watch the Republicans tie Jackson to the nominee. I hope Cooper runs as well.

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James Bengel's avatar

The only thing that makes me hesitate about Jackson running to unseat Tillis is the vacancy he'd leave in the AG's office. I really, REALLY like Jackson, and he'd get my full-throated support for whatever office he sought. Because -- as you noted -- he's got an innate gift for making connections, and he's EXACTLY the model the party -- state wide and nationally -- needs to adopt. In short, he's everything Chuck Schumer is not.

Tillis -- barring satanic intervention -- is doomed, and probably knows it. More important, his party knows it. Can't help wondering if he doesn't find himself in a primary, (or if he wins it) just how hard the Republican apparatus will fight for him. I'm not loving his odds.

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