Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina made a surprising announcement on Sunday, declaring that he will not be running for another term in office. His decision came shortly after he drew heavy criticism from President Trump over his opposition to the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, putting the GOP’s hold on a key Senate seat in jeopardy.
Tillis had just cast a vote against moving forward with the signature Trump-backed legislation, citing serious reservations about the bill’s Medicaid-related components. That vote put him at odds with Trump and sparked a wave of political backlash.
“In Washington over the last few years, it’s become increasingly evident that leaders who are willing to embrace bipartisanship, compromise, and demonstrate independent thinking are becoming an endangered species,” Tillis said in a statement Sunday.
“It’s not a hard choice, and I will not be seeking re-election.”
Even before this development, political analysts had identified Tillis as one of the most at-risk Republican senators heading into the next election cycle, second only to Senator Susan Collins of Maine.
President Trump responded strongly on Saturday, slamming Tillis for opposing the bill and signaling that he would support a challenger to unseat him in the Republican primary.
“Looks like Senator Thom Tillis, as usual, wants to tell the Nation that he’s giving them a 68% Tax Increase, as opposed to the Biggest Tax Cut in American History!” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
“Thom Tillis is making a BIG MISTAKE for America, and the Wonderful People of North Carolina!” he added. “Numerous people have come forward wanting to run in the Primary against ‘Senator Thom’ Tillis.”
Susan Collins has been a democrat for many years now. Her and Lisa Murkowski have been a thorn in the Republicans side for years.