N.C. Sen. Wiley Nickel, D-Wake, is out with one of the first TV ads in the crowded 13th District congressional race. Nickel’s ad highlights his ties to his onetime boss, former President Barack Obama, and urges support for the John Lewis Voting Rights Act.

Another national PAC is coming after former Gov. Pat McCrory with new attack ads. An ad that surfaced Wednesday from the Conservative Outsider PAC paints McCrory as a supporter of immigration sanctuary city policies, using a clip of comments he made about immigrants years ago as Charlotte mayor.

While the two races for N.C. Supreme Court will be hotly contested this year, only one has a primary.

U.S. Rep. Ted Budd’s campaign has been facing some ridicule on Twitter for a fundraising email in which it said that “Duke, UNC and Wake Forest are preparing to make a run to the Final Four.”

Two incumbent Democrats are facing off in Senate District 4, which includes Wilson, Wayne and Greene counties. Veteran Sen. Toby Fitch, D-Wilson, is fending off a challenge from Rep. Raymond Smith, D-Wayne and a former school board member in Wayne County.

Veteran N.C. Rep. Verla Insko, D-Orange, has decided to delay her retirement date from the House.

House Speaker Tim Moore said Tuesday that the legislature will consider law changes related to this year’s election that were requested by the State Board of Elections. He didn’t provide specifics, but the elections board released some email records that detail what they asked for.

If you make up a joke job title on the state ethics form required for all candidates, the State Ethics Commission will not be amused.