Republican Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina, a pivotal holdout on President Donald Trump’s wide-ranging legislative package covering taxes, Medicaid, border enforcement, and more, has announced he will not seek reelection in 2026.
In a public statement, Tillis, who has served in the Senate since 2015, said the decision was “not a hard choice,” pointing to increasing political polarization in Washington and his desire to spend more time with his family.
“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. “The choice is between spending another six years navigating the political theater and partisan gridlock in Washington, or spending that time with the love of my life Susan, our children, and our grandchildren. It’s not a hard choice.”
Tillis also signaled that his upcoming final year and a half in office may bring more political independence. “I look forward to having the pure freedom to call the balls and strikes as I see fit,” he said.
A Key Vote Against Trump’s Domestic Agenda
Tillis’s announcement comes just days after he voted against advancing the GOP’s sweeping domestic policy bill. The legislation, a top priority for President Trump, includes massive tax reforms, deep cuts to Medicaid, and increased funding for border security.
Tillis cited the bill’s anticipated consequences on healthcare access in his home state as the primary reason for his opposition.
“I did my homework on behalf of North Carolinians, and I cannot support this bill in its current form,” he said in a statement on June 28. “It would result in tens of billions of dollars in lost funding for North Carolina, including our hospitals and rural communities.”
He warned that the cuts would likely force the state to reduce or eliminate Medicaid coverage for hundreds of thousands of residents, especially in rural areas.
The legislation has already cleared the House, with projected savings of $625 billion from changes to Medicaid. Nonpartisan estimates suggest these cuts could result in the loss of health coverage for approximately 7.6 million Americans over the next decade. The Senate version of the bill, which is expected to undergo a final vote on June 30, proposes even deeper reductions.
Trump Responds Harshly
Tillis’s opposition drew sharp criticism from former President Trump, who took to his Truth Social platform to denounce the senator.
“Thom Tillis is making a BIG MISTAKE for America, and the Wonderful People of North Carolina!” Trump wrote, adding that he may back a primary challenger to Tillis if he chose to run again.
With Tillis stepping aside, the open Senate seat in battleground North Carolina is expected to be a major focus for both parties in the 2026 midterms. Democrats, eager to retake control of the Senate, had already identified the seat as a top target.
End of an Era
Tillis, known at times for pursuing bipartisan initiatives, lamented the decline of moderate leadership in the Senate.
“Leaders who want bipartisan solutions have become an endangered species in Washington,” he said.
As he prepares to exit public office, Tillis emphasized his desire to serve North Carolinians on his own terms during the remainder of his tenure—free from political pressure and party lines.
