The Senate race name game

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I’m mainly glad the name Tillis will be gone SOON. 

From our vantage point here at Haymaker HQ, we see and hear a lot of things. Some are funny and unrealistic.  Some are things – like Arsenio used to say — that make you go “Hmmmmmm.”

On the GOP side, Don Brown and Andy Nilsson have been out there campaigning for a while.  Brown appears to have a lot of fans among the MAGA primary voters.  We don’t know him and have never met or spoke with him.  A quick browse of his website reveals that he is toeing the MAGA line.

Nilsson has a background that makes him a tough fit for MAGA supporters.  He’s been a late arrival to the Trump fold.  But he does have experience in statewide campaigns as a candidate and as an operative.

The biggest problems facing Nilsson and Brown?  Name recognition and money.  Now, let’s look at some folks who have a lot less of a problem in those fields.

The name of former ambassador and Carolina Hurricanes official Jim Cain is out there again.  It seems that every time an opening pops up for governor or senator on the GOP side, his name gets tossed around.  Cain never takes the bait. Somebody apparently just enjoys seeing his name out there.  I’m betting this campaign cycle will end like all others before — with Cain taking a pass.

Of course, the name Lara Trump keeps getting thrown out there. She’s turned down previous efforts to recruit her to run in Florida and North Carolina.  I am hearing there is one huge waiting game going on now, and that the nomination is allegedly hers if she wants it.  She’s got the right last name and is tight with The Big Man.  I’m not opposed.   But I sure would like to see more of her and hear more from her if she wants to represent my state. 

Pat Harrigan is interesting, to say the least.  He’s a successful entrepreneur and a decorated veteran of the US Army special forces.  Harrigan just made it to the US House in 2024.  He appears to be voting right quite a bit.  He caused us some concern with a comment about ICE during his 2022 run for Congress against Jeff Jackson in a pro-Democrat district. I am told his head has gotten right since then. 

Harrigan will have to leave the House if he runs for the Senate.  There is some worry about his being replaced in the House by another one of those 20-something / 30-something mouth-breathing, empty-suit sycophants loitering around NCGOP HQ or the legislative building in Raleigh.

On the Democrat side, I think it is Roy Cooper‘s nomination if he wants it.  He doesn’t have anything else going on.  He has a top-notch political team around him.  Cooper still has serious name ID.  The Raleigh GOP didn’t do much to neuter him – or even slow him down. I think he’s a tough foe for the general election regardless of who the GOP picks. 

If Cooper backs away, Jeff Jackson appears to be choice #2 for Democrats.  He’s fresh off a statewide win and just left Capitol Hill.

Congressman Don Davis is floating his name out there.  Jones Street has been working hard to gerrymander him out of his district.  The RNC has been pouring a lot of money and attention at him.  He may just be in the mood for a little something different.  He’s clearly #3 for the Democrats.

Former congressman Wiley Nickel is also out there. He’s been running, but not many have noticed.  He’s the archduke of CuckooLand.  Perhaps one of those Chapel Hill-Carrboro drum circles can make some room for him after the primary voting is done. He’s going to need something to do.