WASHINGTON — Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., announced Sunday that he would not run for re-election, one day after he opposed a sweeping bill for President Donald Trump’s agenda.
The two-term Republican issued a lengthy statement about his decision, saying he has not been enthusiastic about seeking another six-year term in the Senate.
“As many of my colleagues have noticed over the last year, and at times even joked about, I haven’t exactly been excited about running for another term,” Tillis said. “That is true since the choice is between spending another six years navigating the political theatre and partisan gridlock in Washington or spending that time with the love of my life Susan, our two children, three beautiful grandchildren, and the rest of our extended family back home. It’s not a hard choice, and I will not be seeking re-election.”
After Tillis voted against advancing the GOP’s massive domestic policy bill Saturday, Trump threatened to meet with potential primary challengers.
“Thom Tillis is making a BIG MISTAKE for America, and the Wonderful People of North Carolina!” Trump wrote on Truth Social Saturday night.
Tillis compared himself to former Democratic Sens. Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona — both of whom became independents by the end of their tenures — without explicitly naming them, saying that independent voices attract scorn in politics.
“Democrats recently lost two such leaders who were dedicated to making the Senate more of a functional and productive legislative body. They got things done. But they were shunned after they courageously refused to cave to their party bosses to nuke the filibuster for the sake of political expediency. They ultimately retired and their presence in the Senate chamber has been sorely missed every day since,” TIllis said.
“It underscores the greatest form of hypocrisy in American politics. When people see independent thinking on the other side, they cheer. But when those very same people see independent thinking coming from their side, they scorn, ostracize, and even censure them,” he continued.
Tillis’ seat in battleground North Carolina was already a top target for Democrats in the 2026 midterm elections. The party is hopeful it can recruit former Gov. Roy Cooper to enter the race, which already features former Rep. Wiley Nickel
“No matter which MAGA loyalist Donald Trump hand-picks to run in North Carolina, I’m the Democrat who’s ready to take them on and win. I’ve flipped a tough seat before and we’re going to do it again,” Nickel said in a statement Sunday. “North Carolinians are independent-minded and won’t be fooled by extremists pushing an agenda that puts billionaires first and working families last.”
Leave a Reply