Wiley Nickel, candidate for US House of Representatives District 13 in NC

Name: Wiley Nickel

Political party: Democrat

Age as of Nov. 8, 2022: 46

Campaign website: www.wileynickelforcongress.com.

Occupation: State senator representing District 16 and an attorney.

Education: Bachelor of Arts from Tulane University, 1998, and a Juris Doctor from Pepperdine Law School, 2005.

Have you run for elected office before? I’m a North Carolina state senator and have served District 16 for two terms.

Please list highlights of your civic involvement: As a former staffer for two White Houses, I learned the value of reaching across the aisle and building coalitions to get things done. Since then, I’ve served two terms in the North Carolina Senate, where I’ve fought to protect the rights of my constituents and level the playing field for working families. I’m a partner in a law firm in Cary where I’ve worked for over a decade to make sure our clients are treated fairly and compassionately by the North Carolina justice system.

What are the three issues that you see as most important to your constituents and what will you do to address them?

North Carolinians are looking for a representative who will fight to lower their cost of living and help them make ends meet. In Congress, I’ll fight to expand affordable housing in our state, invest in child care to lower costs for parents, make health care affordable and tackle inflation. Voters are also facing a very real threat to their basic rights. In Congress, I’ll always stand up for the right to choose and the right to vote, and focus on solutions that help North Carolina families.

What action by Congress would you support to help reduce inflation?

I’m proud to have a detailed plan available on my website that includes solutions to bring down costs for working North Carolinians. We need to bolster our supply chains with investments in transportation infrastructure and in U.S. manufacturing and crack down on corporations that price-gouge consumers. We must also get more people to work, so that our American businesses can get their goods out the door. Voters can read more about our plan to tackle inflation at www.wileynickelforcongress.com.

What federal legislation would you support on abortion?

Codify Roe v. Wade.

Should members of Congress be banned from owning and trading individual stocks?

Yes.

What changes in U.S. immigration enforcement and restrictions would you support?

I support comprehensive immigration reform policies that increase high-skilled worker and student visas, recapture unused visas and increase agricultural worker visas. As our farmers, manufacturers and businesses struggle to fill job openings with qualified workers, it is more urgent than ever that we streamline our immigration process so that skilled and talented workers can join our workforce.

What legislation would you support to make Americans safer from crime? What legislation would you support to make mass shootings less likely?

I support investing in public safety with better pay and better benefits for law enforcement. I believe that far-left extremists that want to defund the police go too far, and I authored a bill to increase funds for mental health co-response programs for police. As a responsible gun owner, I support the Second Amendment. I also support common-sense gun safety laws that reduce violence: universal background checks, safe storage laws and closing the loophole that allows domestic abusers to buy guns.

What, if anything, does Congress need to investigate?

I, like most in our country, was extremely concerned by the attack on our Capitol on Jan. 6. The foundation of our democracy was under attack that day and I support the January 6th Committee in its investigation into the events that transpired. Regardless of party, I support upholding the people’s voice and protecting our democracy as our founders intended.

Do you accept the results of the 2020 presidential election?

Yes.