RALEIGH, N.C. — A Republican candidate for U.S. Senate in North Carolina next year said Friday that he's ending his bid now that Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Whatley has entered the race with President Donald Trump's support.

Several months ago, Andy Nilsson revealed his candidacy for the Senate seat currently held by GOP incumbent Thom Tillis. Tillis announced in late June, after clashing with Trump, that he wouldn't seek a third term.

Last week, Whatley, a North Carolina native and resident, entered the race for the GOP nomination, already holding what Trump wrote on social media as his "Complete and Total Endorsement.”

Now Nilsson, a former furniture company owner who once ran unsuccessfully for lieutenant governor, says in a news release that he had decided to susp

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