Jack Nichols will kick off his state Senate campaign Thursday.

The Raleigh attorney and former Wake County commissioner will hold a fundraiser from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at a former church on St. Mary's Street that is being renovated into a private home.

Among those expected to attend are co-hosts Frank and Julia Daniels and Lonnie and Carol Poole.

Others include Wake school board member Beverley Clark, Sherwood and Eve Smith, Gale Adcock, Sandy Babb and Barrett Kays, Rachel and Sid Eagles, Stephanie Bass and Bill Homan, and Roddy and Eve Jones. 

Nichols, a Democrat, is running for the seat currently held by Sen. Janet Cowell, who is running for state treasurer.

Judge Doug McCullough kicked off his re-election campaign Wednesday.

The N.C. Court of Appeals judge, a former federal prosecutor and a Republican, had some bipartisan support. He announced a steering committee that included Republicans such as I. Beverly Lake Jr. and Democrats such as Burley Mitchell, both former chief justices of the N.C. Supreme Court.

Among the other Democrats backing McCullough were former Judges Sid Eagles and Gerald Arnold, both former chief judges on the N.C.Court of Appeals, Rob Christensen reports.

The kick off was at the Raleigh law offices of Womble Carlyle Sandridge & Rice. A fundraiser was held after the news conference.