US Senate

A Republican candidate for U.S. Senate in North Carolina next year has ended his campaign now that Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Whatley has entered the race with President Donald Trump's endorsement.

Political experts say North Carolina's Senate race next year could see around $500 million in campaign spending, and the contest between former Gov. Roy Cooper and Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Whatley could set a new record for the most expensive Senate race in the country.

Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Whatley is planning a run for U.S. Senate in North Carolina next year after Sen. Thom Tillis dropped out of the race.

Nickel joined the WUNC Politics Podcast this week to talk about how he plans to take on incumbent Republican Sen. Thom Tillis, the prospects that former Gov. Roy Cooper could enter the race, and what he thinks Democrats should do differently to fight the Trump administration.

The onetime conservative Democrat switched late in his career to the Republicans and then got elected to Congress. Former campaign aide and close friend Brad Crone said Faircloth died Thursday at his home in Clinton.

Budd's campaign reported over the weekend — on the Federal Election Commission's deadline date — that it raised $4.77 million during the three months ending Sept. 30. That's barely one-third the $13.36 million that Beasley told the FEC that she raised — in keeping with what her campaign already had disclosed last week.

In what will likely be their only debate together, Democrat Cheri Beasley and Republican Ted Budd took questions Friday night at the Spectrum News studio in Raleigh.

Joined by more than a dozen current and former law enforcement officers at a news conference in Durham on Monday, Beasley announced new legislative priorities to strengthen public safety and mend the frayed relationship between her party and the police force.

The Senate has given final approval to a bill enhancing health care and disability benefits for millions of veterans exposed to toxic burn pits while serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. North Carolina's two Republican senators, Richard Burr and Thom Tillis, split their votes.

Democrats are hoping to finish Jackson's confirmation process before Congress leaves for Easter recess April 11.