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3w ago

Wiley Nickel Launches Campaign for Wake County District Attorney

The open-seat Democratic primary now features career prosecutors alongside a former congressman.

FILE - U.S. Rep. Wiley Nickel, D-N.C. speaks during a roundtable discussion in Raleigh, N.C. on Oct. 3, 2022. (AP Photo/Hannah Schoenbaum, file)
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Overview

  • Former U.S. Rep. Wiley Nickel formally entered the race Tuesday, saying he will push for stronger support for first responders and a justice system focused on fairness, accountability and public safety.
  • Longtime Wake County prosecutor Melanie Shekita and former Wake prosecutor Sherita Walton, now an attorney for the Raleigh Police Department, are already running.
  • Incumbent District Attorney Lorrin Freeman is not seeking reelection and has expressed support for Walton as a potential successor.
  • Freeman questioned Nickel’s suitability for the post, saying the office is not a position that can be bought and noting voters have previously rejected candidates whose only experience was criminal defense.
  • The seat will be decided in November 2026, giving the Democratic field time to build campaigns and define priorities for Wake County’s prosecutor’s office.