Republican Sen. Thom Tillis announced Sunday that he will not seek reelection in 2026, delivering a surprise decision just hours after former President Donald Trump threatened to back a primary challenger against him.
The North Carolina senator said in a statement that stepping away from a third term was “not a hard choice,” citing exhaustion with Washington’s “political theater and partisan gridlock.”
Tillis has been at odds with Trump in recent weeks, especially over the president’s signature “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” a sweeping piece of domestic legislation. Tillis drew Trump’s ire after voting against advancing the bill in the Senate due to concerns over its Medicaid provisions, which he warned would strip coverage from hundreds of thousands of North Carolinians.
Trump responded swiftly, declaring on his social media platform that he would begin meeting with potential challengers to run against Tillis in the GOP primary. After Tillis’ retirement announcement, Trump posted, “Great News!”
In his statement, Tillis compared himself to former Democratic Senators Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema, saying they were also pushed out by their parties for refusing to conform.
“Independent thinking is becoming endangered in American politics,” Tillis wrote. “When people show it on the other side, they’re praised. When someone from your own side does it, they’re condemned.”
He added, “I’ve had enough of the hypocrisy.”
Tillis had long voiced strong opposition to the Senate’s version of Trump’s reconciliation bill, specifically objecting to the Medicaid provider tax proposal. He warned fellow Republicans that the plan could jeopardize coverage for more than 600,000 people in his home state. During a recent closed-door GOP meeting, he distributed data to illustrate how the proposed changes would impact various states.
“I’m just trying to advocate for smart policy,” Tillis told reporters. “And smart policy starts with understanding the local impact.”
Tillis has also been one of the few Republicans willing to speak out against Trump, even mildly. In February, he directly criticized Trump after the former president called Ukraine’s President Zelenskyy a dictator and appeared to blame Ukraine for the war with Russia.
“I support President Trump,” Tillis said during a Senate floor speech, “but anyone who thinks Vladimir Putin has a place in the future of a stable world is dead wrong. He’s a cancer and the biggest threat to democracy in my lifetime.”
Tillis’ departure now opens up a high-stakes 2026 Senate race in purple North Carolina. Democrat Rep. Wiley Nickel has already declared his candidacy, and speculation is swirling around former Governor Roy Cooper as a potential contender. On the Republican side, Trump’s involvement is expected to heavily influence the primary.
With Tillis stepping aside, the race for his seat is already shaping up to be one of the most competitive and expensive contests of the cycle.
